Italian musician Paolo Pandolfo is considered one of the most brilliant and poetic contemporary performers of the viola da gamba. His musical path extends far beyond recreating historical repertoire—Paolo seeks to reveal just how much life, freedom, and unexpected color lies within the early music tradition.
His interest in Renaissance and Baroque music began around 1979, when he, alongside violinist Enrico Gatti and harpsichordist Rinaldo Alessandrini, started exploring the performance practices of these eras. Pandolfo later studied at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel under the renowned viola da gamba master Jordi Savall, and from 1982 to 1990, he was a member of Savall’s ensemble, Hespèrion XX.
Pandolfo’s first solo recording—Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach’s sonatas for the viola da gamba—was released in 1990 to great acclaim. That same year, the musician became a professor at his former school, sharing his knowledge with young performers for more than three decades. His recording catalog also features his highly regarded arrangements of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Six Cello Suites for the viola da gamba.
Improvisation, transcription, and the exploration of contemporary music hold a significant place in Pandolfo’s creative work. He is convinced that the heritage of early music can serve as a profound inspiration for the creators of tomorrow.
On December 19 at Paliesius Manor, the musician, joined by harpsichordist Andrea Buccarella and lutenist Thomas Boysen, will present the program “Labyrinth and Other Stories,” featuring the music of Marin Marais: vivid, full of character, unexpected turns, and rich narratives.
Read more: 12.19 | “Labyrinth and Other Stories”