Paolo Pandolfo

Paolo Pandolfo is among Europe’s leading exponents from the viola da gamba. In 1979, after research in the Rome Conservatory, he co-founded (with Rinaldo Alessandrini and Enrico Gatti) la Stravaganza. In 1981, he relocated to Basel, Switzerland, where he started collaborating with gambist Jordi Savall and his ensemble Hespèrion XX. In 1989, Pandolfo was called teacher of viola da gamba in the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, among the leading centers for teaching early music performers. Since 1992, he offers aimed the viol consort Outfit di viole Labyrinto, with which he offers toured internationally. Pandolfo’s recordings of Bach’s music for the gamba (in 2000 on Harmonia Mundi and once again this year 2010 on Glossa), as well as the cello suites performed around the gamba, possess generated desire for the role from the device in Bach’s period. Yet, Pandolfo can be worked up about creating songs for the historic device, as evidenced from the 2004 documenting Travel Records, which consists of his personal music plus some by his sibling, trumpeter Andrea Pandolfo.