Elam Rotem

The vocal ensemble Profeti della Quinta was founded in the Galilee region of Israel by the bass singer and harpsichordist Elam Rotem and is based in Basel, Switzerland, where its members undertook further studies of early music at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. The ensemble focuses on the vocal repertoire of the 16th and early 17th Centuries. From its core of five male singers, the ensemble collaborates regularly with instrumentalists and additional singers.

Some 15 years ago, the hitherto unknown "Carlo G Manuscript" was purchased at a Vienna jumble sale for the princely sum of 60 euros. Once a doctoral thesis has been prepared based on this document and it had been made available on the internet in the form of scanned images, the manuscript was sold by Sotheby's at auction to an anonymous buyer in 2007, as a consequence of which it has once again disappeared. The fact that the surname of its author had become illegible as a result of a smudge deepens the mystery surrounding the manuscript even further - however, although being from the same time as that of the famous Carlo Gesualdo, everything points to the fact the prince of Venosa was not the composer being searched for…

Emilio de’ Cavalieri (1550-1602) might be one of the most interesting figures of his time. A diplomat; choreographer; organist and composer; his few surviving compositions are groundbreaking; and place him at the forefront of musical development; especially in terms of his connection to the new stile rappresentativo and early opera. Cavalieri's Lamentations and Responsories are extremely innovative when compared to other settings from the time: the expressive setting of the dark biblical text combines old and new musical styles - beautiful and complex polyphonic sections alternating with highly expressive monodies and duets. Profeti della Quinta has been researching and performing Cavalieri’s Lamentations over the past ten years; and are extremely happy to finally share this recording of it.

With the arrival of Adrian Willaert at St Mark’s Cathedral in 1527, Venice at last boasted a musician of international reputation to match its growing image as a ‘city rich in gold but richer in renown, mighty in works but mightier in virtue’. The establishment of Venice as the world leader in music publishing, and the coming and going of international musicians, made the Floating City anything but insular, and artistic competition was order of the day, with organists duelling to outdo each other in invention and grace; while on the streets a different culture of lively dances gave rise to more opportunities for instrumentalists to show off their improvisational skills.

Profeti della Quinta (Prophets of the Perfect Fifth) is a male vocal ensemble, specializing in the music of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Founded in the Galilee region of Israel by Elam Rotem, the ensemble is currently based in Basel, Switzerland, where its members undertook advanced studies at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. The core of the ensemble includes countertenor, tenor and bass singers, who perform either a-cappella or together with period instruments such as theorbo and harpsichord.