Paolo Pandolfo

Adieu Sweet Love – The Art of Melancholy

Experience the ‘pure sound’ (The Strad) of one of the planet’s greatest viola da gamba players.

Described as ‘one of the most brilliant and poetic exponent’ (Gramophone) of his instrument, Paolo Pandolfo makes his Melbourne Recital Centre debut with a mesmerising venture through the golden age of the viola da gamba.

Mimicking that of European courts, the Primrose Potter Salon’s intimate acoustics are on full display in this hour-long performance demonstrating why this historical instrument captivated audiences for centuries.

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