Melopoetica was formed in 2003 with the aim of creating fresh and innovative performances of repertoire from the late sixteenth century to the classical works of Mozart and Haydn. Since 2003 the London based ensemble has been playing to audiences worldwide, and are fast developing a reputation for unique interpretations and performances that truly engage with and move their audiences.
They have performed in festivals throughout England and Europe, including the London Handel Festival, the Hexham Abbey Festival, Greenwich Early Music Festival, Alte Music Feldkirchen and the Tilford Bach Society. Associations with other ensembles led them to play in Greece and Sweden. They have recently returned from a month long tour of South Africa, and have future concerts planned at the Handel House Museum with singer Claire Troth, City Music Society and Farnham Classic Concerts.
Melopoetica were awarded the title "English Concert Junior Fellow" by Trinity College of Music in 2006.
The ensemble consists of Bárbara Barros and Siv Thomassen, baroque violins, Iason Ioannou, baroque cello and Erik Dippenaar, harpsichord. Bárbara plays a 2005 Amati copy by Willibrord Crijnen, Siv, a 2004 Steiner copy by the same maker, and Iason plays a 2005 Gofriller reproduction by Clive Morris.
Siv Thomassen moved to London to study the baroque violin after finishing her undergraduate degree at Griegakademiet, Institutt for Musikk in Bergen, Norway.
Besides playing with Melopoetica, she is now freelancing and has played with ensembles as Gabrieli Consort and Players (with whom she has participated on two CD-recordings), Florilegium and Barokkanerne (Norway).
