Solo tenor cello, two traversos, portative organ, two violins, viola, cello, contrabass
With "Of Head and Heart," Il Gardellino brings together the 18th-century repertoire of Bach, Vivaldi, and contemporaries with the creation of a new composition by Christian Mason for solo tenor cello, 2 traversos, strings, and positive organ. Christian Mason wrote this work commissioned by Il Gardellino for top Canadian cellist Elinor Frey. Mason himself is a rising star in the world of contemporary music. He is the winner of the 2025 Grawemeyer Prize, and has already received commissions from the Wiener Philharmoniker, Konzerthausorchester Berlin and the Arditti quartet, among others. Cellist Elinor Frey is world-class in the field of historical cello. The combination of Mason, Frey and Il Gardellino creates an intriguing and captivating confrontation between music from the 21st and 18th centuries.
J. S. Bach (1685–1750): Ricercar a sei from the Musical Offering, arr. for flute, violin, tenor cello and harpsichord (8′)
Wilhelm Friedmann Bach (1710–1784): Sinfonia in D minor, F. 65 — Adagio and Fugue (12′)
Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741): Concerto in D Minor for cello, strings and basso continuo, RV 406 — Allegro non molto / Andante / Minuetto (+ Variations E. Frey) (13′)
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Christian Mason (°1984): Tristesse pour les temps perdus, for solo tenor cello, 2 traversos, strings & organ (18′)
Franz Benda (1709–1786): Concerto in E Minor for flute, strings and basso continuo, L 2.4 — Allegro con brio / Adagio un poco Andante / Presto (19′)
Vivaldi: Concerto in G Minor for two cellos, strings and basso continuo, RV 531 — Allegro / Largo / Allegro (10′)
solo tenor cello/cello - Elinor Frey
solo traverso - Jan De Winne
traverso - Carlota García
violin - Julie Rivest
violin - Joanna Huszcza
viola - Isaac Chalk
cello - Ira Givol
double bass - Joseph Phillips
harpsichord/organ - Stanislav Gres
