From 1971 to 1984, Plantamura was active as a founding member, along with countertenor-composer John Patrick Thomas, cellist Marijke Verberne, and harpsichordist William Christie, of The Five Centuries Ensemble.[3] The group combined early music with contemporary works (many written expressly for the ensemble) in concerts and radio broadcasts throughout Europe and America and on tours in Australia and New Zealand. Plantamura appears in six recordings of 17th-century Italian vocal music that The Five Centuries Ensemble made for the Fonit Cetra/Italia label in Italy (including works by d'India, Monteverdi, Luzzaschi, Gagliano, Frescobaldi, and A. Scarlatti-other ensemble members on the recordings include soprano Martha Herr, countertenor Thomas, lutenist Jürgen Hübscher, viola da gambist Martha McGaughey, and harpsichordist Arthur Haas).
Plantamura joined the faculty of the University of California, San Diego in 1978 and is currently Professor Emerita.[4] She also serves on the San Diego Early Music Society (SDEMS) Advisory Panel [1].
1978: Sigismondo d'India – Arie Madrigali E Mottetti, The Five Centuries Ensemble (Italia, ITL 70026). Never before recorded or performed in the last three centuries.
1978: Luzzasco Luzzaschi – Madrigali Per Cantare E Sonare, Due E Tre Soprani, The Five Centuries Ensemble (Fonit Cetra – ITL 70050), with the participation of soprano Martha Herr.
1979: Marco Da Gagliano – Musiche A Una, Due E Tre Voci; Sacrae Cantiones, The Five Centuries Ensemble (Italia – ITL 70060). Never before recorded or performed in the last three centuries.
1979: Alessandro Scarlatti – Quatro Cantate, The Five Centuries Ensemble (Italia – ITL 70065)
1979: Eclipse on: Roger Reynolds – Watershed IV / Eclipse / The Red Act Arias (AIX)
1980: Claudio Monteverdi – Madrigali sacre e profane, The Five Centuries Ensemble (Italia / [Fonit Cetra])
1981: Chanson de Gest on: Denis Smalley – The Pulses of Time (University of East Anglia Recordings, UEA 81063)
1982: American GraffitibyLeo Smit on: The Brooklyn Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Lukas Foss, conductor (GRAMAVISION Records)
1983: Girolamo Frescobaldi – Musica Vocale e Strumentale, The Five Centuries Ensemble (Italia – ITL 70095)
