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Adieu Sweet Love – The Art of Melancholy

Friday 14 March 2025

In the Utzon Room

Classical Music

The Italian Cultural Institute presents Paolo Pandolfo in a mesmerising viola da gamba recital.

One of the most brilliant and poetic exponents of his instrument.

Gramophone

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Beyond the realms of Renaissance and Baroque

Described as "one of the most brilliant and poetic exponents" (Gramophone) of his instrument, Paolo Pandolfo makes his return to the Sydney Opera House with a mesmerising venture through the golden age of the viola da gamba. 

From the intimacy of de Machy’s elegant French suite, the bold experimentalism of Tobias Hume’s The First Part of Ayres, right through to his own arrangement of Bach’s second Cello Suite, this historic, yet thoroughly contemporary, instrument comes to life with Paolo’s "brilliantly poetic" (Sydney Morning Herald) artistry.

Presented by Italian Cultural Institute of Sydney

About Paolo Pandolfo: Paolo is one of the world's leading viola da gamba maestros. A member of Jordi Savall's ensemble Hesperion XX from 1982 until 1990, he has since performed as a soloist throughout the world. Since 1990 he has been a professor at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, his alma mater, and released a large number of CDs, mainly concentrating on the viola repertoire (Marais, St.Colombe, T.Hume, De Machy, Couperin). His adaptation of J.S. Bach's Six Solo Suites for the viola became immediately a “must” for any complete Bach discography. 

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