Dúo Cassadó is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 2008 by the Spanish cellist Marta Casals Istomin and the pianist and composer Carlos Avila. The ensemble is named after the Spanish cellist Gaspar Cassadó, who was a close friend and mentor to Casals Istomin. Marta Casals Istomin was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1936. She began playing the cello at the age of six and went on to study at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. She later became the first woman to hold the position of principal cellist in the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. She also served as the president of the Manhattan School of Music from 1992 to 2005. Carlos Avila was born in Madrid, Spain, in 1974. He began playing the piano at the age of four and went on to study at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid. He has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Dúo Cassadó has performed in some of the world's most prestigious concert halls, including Carnegie Hall in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona. The ensemble has also performed at numerous music festivals, including the Casals Festival in Puerto Rico, the Festival Internacional de Música de Cámara de Aguascalientes in Mexico, and the Festival Internacional de Música de Cadaqués in Spain. One of the highlights of Dúo Cassadó's career was their performance at the 2010 Casals Festival in Puerto Rico. The festival was dedicated to the memory of Marta Casals Istomin's late husband, the cellist and conductor Pablo Casals. Dúo Cassadó performed a program of works by Gaspar Cassadó, Manuel de Falla, and Joaquín Rodrigo, among others. Dúo Cassadó has also received numerous awards and accolades for their performances and recordings. In 2011, they were awarded the Premio Nacional de Música de la Generalitat de Catalunya, which is the highest honor for musicians in the region of Catalonia. They have also been praised for their recordings of works by Gaspar Cassadó, which have been released on the Naxos and Tritó labels. In addition to their performances and recordings, Dúo Cassadó is also committed to promoting classical music education. They have given masterclasses and workshops at universities and conservatories around the world, including the Juilliard School in New York and the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid. Overall, Dúo Cassadó is a highly acclaimed classical music ensemble that has made significant contributions to the world of chamber music. Their performances and recordings have been praised for their technical excellence and emotional depth, and their commitment to music education has helped to inspire the next generation of classical musicians.

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