Ensemble La Sestina

The Ensemble La Sestina (Neuchâtel) is specialised in the interpretation of Renaissance polyphonic music. It was created in 1999 by its director and conductor, Adriano Giardina. The musicians' staff varies according to the particular constraints of the programme.

The wish of the Ensemble is both, to unearth music works that are forgotten in libraries, and to interpret others, best-known, with a profound analysis of the repertory.

La Sestina interprets works even for choir and for soloists. On occasion, instrumentalists join the staff.

The Ensemble regularly produces and gives concerts in the area of the canton of Neuchâtel. Moreover, in 2001, La Sestina performed as part of the Goûts réunis, a series of ancient music concerts in Lausanne, and during the Concerts de Romainmôtiers.

In springs 2002, in the Théâtre du Pommier in Neuchâtel, the Ensemble interpreted a profane music programme dedicated to XVIth century French songs and madrigals of Monteverdi, as the Lamento d'Arianna and... La Sestina.

In April 2003, the Ensemble performed in the Collégiale de Neuchâtel. The programme reproduced a probable succession of musical pieces of a Palm Mass, according to what the audience should have heard in Seville around 1580.

In 2004, La Sestina was invited by the Organ Concerts of St-Michel (Fribourg), the Concerts of the Abbatiale of Payerne and Cantate Bellelay.

In the same year, the Ensemble recorded its first compact disc, dedicated to the Album of Marguerite of Austria, for the label Disques Office Classique (Fribourg). This recording was very positively welcomed by the international specialist press (5 Diapasons, 4 Etoiles du Monde de la Musique).

In 2006, La Sestina was invited to perform, among others, during the Estivales de Brou in Bourg-en-Bresse (France) ang in the Musical Antica Festival in Magnano (Italie). Moreover, the Ensemble recorded its second compact disc, dedicated to the firsts motets of the Spanish composer Tomás Luis de Victoria, once more for the label Disque Office Classique.

Adriano Giardina