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Composer Conductor  

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Chamber

 

Paolo Pandolfo is a renowned Italian viola da gamba player and conductor, known for his virtuosic performances and innovative interpretations of early music. Born in Rome in 1964, Pandolfo began his musical studies at a young age, studying cello and viola da gamba at the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia in Rome. He later continued his studies with Jordi Savall at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland, where he developed his unique approach to early music performance. Pandolfo's career as a performer began in the early 1980s, when he began playing with various early music ensembles in Europe. He quickly gained a reputation as a skilled and expressive player, and was soon in demand as a soloist and chamber musician. In 1989, he joined the ensemble La Stravaganza, with whom he recorded several acclaimed albums of early music. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Pandolfo continued to perform and record extensively, both as a soloist and as a member of various ensembles. He collaborated with many of the leading figures in the early music world, including Jordi Savall, Rinaldo Alessandrini, and Fabio Biondi. He also began to develop his skills as a conductor, leading performances with ensembles such as the Accademia Bizantina and the Concerto Italiano. One of Pandolfo's most notable achievements as a performer was his recording of the complete works of Marin Marais for the Glossa label. This ambitious project, which took several years to complete, involved recording all of Marais's works for viola da gamba, including his suites, sonatas, and other pieces. The resulting recordings were widely praised for their technical brilliance and emotional depth, and cemented Pandolfo's reputation as one of the leading interpreters of early music. In addition to his work as a performer and conductor, Pandolfo has also been active as a teacher and scholar. He has taught at several prestigious institutions, including the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia, and has given masterclasses and workshops around the world. He has also published several articles and essays on early music performance practice, and has been involved in the development of new instruments and techniques for playing the viola da gamba. Throughout his career, Pandolfo has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the world of early music. In 1992, he was awarded the prestigious Erwin Bodky Award for Early Music, and in 2000 he received the Prix International du Disque de l'Académie Charles Cros for his recording of Marais's works. He has also been awarded the Diapason d'Or, the Choc de la Musique, and the Gramophone Award, among others. Today, Pandolfo continues to perform and record extensively, and remains one of the most respected and influential figures in the world of early music. His innovative approach to performance and his deep understanding of the music of the past have helped to bring the music of the Baroque and Renaissance periods to new audiences around the world, and have inspired countless musicians and scholars to explore the rich and complex world of early music.

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