Michelene Wandor recorder/viol/text Philip Thorby harpsichord/viol/recorder Jennie Cassidy alto Other musicians as appropriate

Siena Ensemble was formed to create ‘bespoke’ programmes for particular events/broadcasts. Repertoire is 16th-18th centuries, combining words and music in an innovative, entertaining and informative way. The group was founded by Michelene Wandor, writer, musician and broadcaster, to provide music for her Radio 3 play Orlando and Friends. Siena has been at the forefront of the revival of the music of Salamone Rossi, the Jewish composer who lived and worked in Mantua at the turn of the 17th century. With the help of a JMI Millennium Lottery Fund Award in 2001, Siena produced its debut CD, Salamone Rossi Hebreo Mantovano, containing a cross-section of his music – trio sonatas, dance pieces and polyphonic settings of Hebrew texts. Siena’s other programmes include Plain and Fancy, the life, times and music of Benvenuto Cellini, sculptor, soldier and braggart; The Marriage of True Minds, the story of Shakespeare and the Dark Lady of the Sonnets, told through original script and early 17th century English music: Sisters, the story of the stormy relationship between Isabella d’Este and Lucrezia Borgia, in words and music; Music of the Prophets - 1656 and all that, Cromwell and the resettlement of the Jews with the music of John Hingeston.

Programmes:

The Marriage of True Minds: Shakespeare and the (Jewish?) Dark Lady of the Sonnets
Plain and Fancy: The life and times of Benvenuto Cellini
Who Wrote Salamone Rossi?: Early 17th century music
Sisters: Isabella and Lucrezia - 16th century rivals
Music of the Prophets - 1656 and all that: Music and words programme about Cromwell and the resettlement of the Jews in England. With the music of John Hingeston. With Richard Boothby and Susanna Pell.

Recordings:

Salamone Rossi Hebreo, Mantovano - 2002 Classical Recording Company
Plain and Fancy - 2006

Performances:

29 Nov 06 St Olave’s Church, London
12 Dec 06 London Jewish Cultural Centre
10 Jul 07 Heptonstall Church, Hebden Bridge Festival

Contact:

Michelene Wandor, 71 Belsize Lane,
London NW3 5AU

Tel: 020 7435 8152

Email: mwandor@compuserve.com Website: www.mwandor.co.uk