A new album for cellist Elinor Frey !
Dall’Abaco and the Art of Variation
” Generous in every sense, this disc stands out for several reasons ” – Gramophone Magazine.
Cellist Elinor Frey, Accademia de’ Dissonanti, and Passacaille Records announce the release of the new album, Dall’Abaco and the Art of Variation, presenting three cello sonatas and two cello trios, to be released on the Passacaille label on February 2, 2024 (digital release on February 9).
La violoncelliste Elinor Frey, Accademia de’ Dissonanti et Passacaille Records annoncent la sortie d’un nouvel album, Dall’Abaco et l’art de la variation, présentant trois sonates pour violoncelle et deux trios pour trois violoncelles, publié sous le label Passacaille le 2 février 2024 (sortie numérique le 9 février).
Dall’Abaco’s Variations
This new album celebrating Dall’Abaco’s music is one that explores the Baroque art of variation through two cello trios, performed alongside Eva Lymenstull and Octavie Dostaler-Lalonde, and three cello sonatas, joined by Michele Pasotti and Federica Bianchi. In each sonata, the final movements have a theme followed by a set of variations. Such variations give space for the composer or the performer to develop the piece further by producing interesting new gestural figures in the solo cello part while continuing to use the same bass line and its harmonies. Sonata ABV 39 has a set variations written by Dall’Abaco and Sonatas ABV 20 and ABV 21 have variations composed by Elinor Frey. Variation sets are typically full of virtuosic gestures and resourceful melodic creations. At the same time, the album explores the subtle variations of sound among cellos and cellists themselves. Cantabile melodies enhanced by instrumental bravura illustrate Dall’Abaco’s masterful and immediately-appealing writing for the cello.
Elinor Frey, cellist
Elinor Frey is a leading Canadian-American cellist, gambist, and researcher. Her albums – many of which are world premiere recordings – include Early Italian Cello Concertos, winner of the 2023 JUNO Award for Classical Album of the Year (small ensemble) and Cello Sonatas by Giuseppe Clemente Dall’Abaco which received a Diapason d’Or. Her critical editions of Dall’Abaco’s cello music is published in collaboration with Walhall Editions. She was awarded Fulbright Fellowship to Italy, Québec’s Opus Prize for “Performer of the Year” (2021), and she holds degrees from McGill, Mannes, and Juilliard. Elinor teaches early cellos and performance practice at McGill University and the Université de Montréal.
Accademia de’ Dissonanti
Accademia de’ Dissonanti was founded in 2020. As an ensemble and artistic institution inspired by the intellectual legacy of a 17th-century society in Modena, Italy, Accademia de’ Dissonanti explores the realms of Jean Baur, Dall’Abaco, Vivaldi, and other maestros, blending historical performance with creative research. The ensemble performed two tours across Canada, in January 2020 and October 2022 (Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver, Victoria, Kénogami, Waterloo, and Salt Spring Island), each program dedicated to the charming and fascinating music of Luigi Boccherini, and in June 2023 the Montréal Chamber Music Festival and in November 2023 Montréal Bach Festival with mezzo-soprano Sonia Prina.
Listen the album on Spotify, Apple Music and Youtube.
Buy the album on the website of Elinor or Passacaille.
