The Ricci Ensemble

Sixteenth-century madrigals (often newly reconstructed)

“sublime singing” (Becky Kershaw for the Jesus College Annual Report 2020)

We present programmes of rediscovered madrigals from sixteenth-century Italy. Newly reconstructed, these pieces offer a glimpse of the vibrant musical life enjoyed by Monteverdi and his contemporaries. The ensemble is named after the Italian composer, Cesarina Ricci de Tingoli (b. c.1573). 

At our first concert in April 2019, we presented reconstructed madrigals from Cesarina Ricci de Tingoli’s Il primo libro de madrigali à cinque voci (1597). Her only known publication, this book of madrigals survives incomplete, with two of the five parts missing. Ricci’s madrigals are a staple of the group’s repertoire, and a firm favourite with our audiences.

Here’s a taste of what we get up to: 

Nel discostarsi il sole
Cesarina Ricci de Tingoli
Il primo libro de madrigali à cinque voci (1597)
A live recording from our concert in Jesus College Chapel in October 2019
We’re looking forward to singing at St. Anne’s Church on Kew Green tomorrow at 3:30pm. Join us for an afternoon of 400-year-old madrigals with reconstructions that are hot off the press! We are delighted to present our new logo, designed by the lovely @beatrixbydesign ! Stay tuned for the upcoming launch of our website...! Welcome to our Instagram page! The Ricci Ensemble takes its name from the sixteenth-century Italian composer, Cesarina Ricci de Tingoli. Her only known publication is a book of madrigals for five voices (1597), which survives in one incomplete copy in the Ghent University Library.