Cinelli Music

The Ensemble Falconieri, comprised of musicians from New York and Rome, is dedicated to performing Italian Baroque music on period instruments. Their repertoire includes both vocal and instrumental works in the Neapolitan and Roman styles of the 17th century. An idea conceived by lutenist, Federico Marincola, this ensemble features Pino De Vittorrio, tenor and actor, with Pat O'Brien and Dennis Cinelli performing on lutes and early guitars.

Mr. De Vittorio's unique style and understanding of early Italian songs draws upon his theatrical experience and knowledge of Italian literature. His performances incorporate the folk elements inherent in this traditional Italian music. Through their versatility and virtuosity, Federico, Pat and Dennis blend the many timbres produced by the various plucked and strummed instruments used in their interpretations of this specialized repertory.

Utilizing the many instrumental combinations available to Italian continuo musicians of the 17th century, Pat O'Brien has created the unique sound of the Ensemble Falconieri. He has been inspired by period compositions including the Conserto Vago (Rome 1645), an anonymous edition for lute, therobo and chitarrino ( a small guitar) and Stefano Landi's manuscript Canzona detta "La Palla" for continuo instruments. These models are only a few of the sources which have motivated Pat's creative reconstructions of instrumental dance suites and song continuo realizations.

Pino De Vittorio, actor and singer was born in Leporano, in the provence of Taranto, Italy. After debuting with the group "Pupi e Fresedde", he began his musical and theatrical career with the important Italian music director Roberto De Simone. Pino has played principle roles in Mr. De Simone's major works including "Mister Napaletano", "Li zite 'n galera", "Maggio Musicale Fiorentino", "l'Opera buffa del Giovedi Santo", a new production of "Gatta Cenerentola" as well as performing at international fesivals in New York, Buenos Aires, Rio De Janeiro, and San Paolo, Brazil.

In the San Carlo theatre in Naples, he worked on the Ricci Brothers' production of "Crispino e la Comare" as well as their Stabat Mater including their requiem in memory of P.P. Pasolini. In addition, Pino has participated in many Italian and internatonal festivals including the "Maggio Musicale Fiorentino" in Florence. There he performed in Luciano Berio's modern revision of Claudio Monteverdi's "Orfeo". For the "Settimane Internazionale Di Napoli" Pino has played major roles in Stravinsky's "Histoire du Sodat" directed by Salvatore Accardo and Massimo De Benardt's production of "Pulcinella".

He has sung for L'Accademia Chigiana in Siena and for other institutions of great prestige throughout Europe. In London, Pino had the opportunity to perform for the Royal Family interperting the role of "Amore" in "Dafne" by Marco Zenobi da Gagliano. He has also been a soloist in the vocal/instrumental versions of "Media Aetas" and "Fuggilo Tio".

Presently, he is a member of the early music ensemble "Cappella della Pietá dei Turchini" directed by Antonio Florio. With this group he has toured extensively performing the Renaissance and Baroque repertory of Naples He still performs numerous concerts with leading ensembles throughout Europe. In France, his recordings have been met with critical acclaim especially: "Oh cielo, oh ammore"-Pino De Vittorio; "Cantate napoletano dell'era barocca Vol I "; and "Francesco Provenzale"- dialogues, canzonettes and arias Vol.II.

Born in Rome, Federico Marincola studied classical guitar with Sergio Notaro, later specializing in the lute with Diana Poulton. Having won a grant from the Dutch Government, he studied with Anthony Bailes at the Sweelinck Conservatorium of Amsterdam. Another grant from the British Council enabled him to study with Jakob Lindberg at the Royal College of Music in London, where he obtained a Performer diploma in lute, a second diploma in early music and the Certificate of Advanced Study. He completed his training with Nigel North and Christopher Wilson.

In the last twenty years, Mr. Marincola has been very active as a performer and has given many solo recitals and played with singers and early music groups throughout Europe. In 1986, he toured as a soloist throughout India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. As a basso continuo player, Federico has performed in many baroque operas at some of the most famous opera theatres of Italy (Teatro alla Scala - Milan; Teatro dell' Opera - Rome; Teatro Massimo - Palermo; Teatro Comunale - Florence; Teatro San Carlo - Naples). He is also the theorbist with the Cappella della Pietá dei Turchini, one of the most important baroque groups in Italy. In July 1998 he was invited by the Lute Society of America to teach and play at the LSA summer course in Columbus (OH).

Federico has made several recordings with orchestras and small groups and has performed on radio broadcasts in Italy, Switzerland, Yugoslavia, the Vatican, India and Sri Lanka. With Pierre Verany Disques, he recorded a CD of pieces from the "Vincenzo Capirola Lute Book" in 1992, a CD of pieces for lute and renaissance guitar by the French composer Guillaume Morlaye in 1993 and a third CD of lute pieces by Anthony Holborne in 1995. These solo recordings have been reviewed positively by the international press ("5 Diapasons" to Capirola and Morlaye, "5 Diapasons" and "10 by Répertoire" to Holborne).

Mr. Marincola, one of the founders of the Società Italiana del Liuto, uses an instrumental technique which is based on several treatises and iconographical sources from the 16th and 17th centuries. He believes that, to give a convincing performance of this repertoire, it is of paramount importance to have a profound knowledge of the original fingerings and criteria of interpretation. He also finds ideas and inspiration for the performance of early music in certain aspects of the philosophy and astrology of the Renaissance period. "The distinguished Italian lutenist, Federico Marincola, plays these works with clear and substantial tone, complete technical security and, most importantly, with consummate musicality: to him these pieces are not academic exercises but expressive, human documents". (J. D., "Gramophone", England)

Patrick O'Brien has taught guitar, lute and early harp in his native New York City for over thirty years. Active as a continuo lutenist, guitarist and theorboist, he has performed throughout Europe and North America with the Harp Consort, Baltimore Consort, Schola Antiqua, New York City Opera; and at the Caramoor, Spoleto and Boston Early Music festivals. He serves on the faculties of the Mannes College of Music, the State University of New York and the annual Lute Society of America's Seminar. Recently, Mr. O'Brien has made several recordings with the Harp Consort, The King's Noyse and Paul O'Dette.

Dennis Cinelli is active as a soloist and chamber musician on early guitars, lutes and mandolins. He has performed with the American Symphony, The Bach Aria Group, Artek, the American Virtuosi, Ars Antigua, the New York Collegium, Lord Chamberlain's Consort, The Ivory Consort and his own Cinelli Duo (with wife Janet, soprano) playing concerts throughout the United States and Europe. He has appeared on artists' series at Yale, Ohio, Wake Forest and Appalachian State Universities. Presented in recitals sponsored by the Philadelphia, Piedmont and Mobile Classical Guitar Societies, Mr. Cinelli has also accompanied Robert Osborne, Louise Wohlafka, Jeffrey Gall and Pino de Vittorio on lutes and early guitars.

Featured in concerts at the Festival de Wallonie in Belgium and the Caramoor and Boston Early Music Festivals, Mr. Cinelli has also spent summers teaching and performing at the International Toscanini Early Guitar Festival/Competition in Stresa, Italy and the Lute Society of America's Summer Seminar.