CELLO PUR - GASPAR CASSADÓ IN FOCUS

"Music will touch our soul and unfold its colors within us." — Gaspar Cassadó

 

Artists: ALMATI DUO 

Dmitrij Gornowskij, Cello
Amir Tebenikhin, Piano

 

Total duration: Approx. 45–50 minutes. 

The duration of the programme can be adjusted. 

 

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CONCEPT AND PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

 

A musical portrait of the great cellist, composer, and arranger. Gaspar Cassadó (1897–1966) was not only a master of the cello, but also a unique artistic voice who built bridges between tradition and modernity. As a student of Pablo Casals – the founder of modern cello technique – he inherited a profound sense of expression, which he fused with his own virtuosic and imaginative musical language.

 

Cassadó’s arrangements are considered legendary. He transcribed works by Tchaikovsky, Schubert (including the Arpeggione Sonata), and many others for cello and piano, giving them new timbral dimensions and emotional layers. Particularly compelling is his exploration of the intersections between classical music and Spanish folklore: his Sonata in Old Spanish Style and transcriptions such as Requiebros embody a rare fusion of Baroque elegance, romantic lyricism, and Iberian fire.

 

Cassadó maintained close artistic and personal ties with some of the greatest musicians of his era — in addition to Pablo Casals, he was in close exchange with figures such as Manuel de Falla, Isaac Albéniz, and Jascha Heifetz. Through this constellation of influences and connections, he emerged as a key figure who combined musical heritage, virtuosic command, and creative transformation with poetic individuality.

 

His concerts and chamber music performances were often described as musical events — not only because of his technical brilliance, but because of the deeply lyrical and imaginative sound world he was able to create. Every piece he arranged gained a new expressive voice; and his original compositions reflect an extraordinary understanding of sonority, form, and nuance.

 

This programme offers a rich and atmospheric journey into the world of Cassadó – from his Sonata in Old Spanish Style to luminous miniatures in which Spanish dances, Baroque refinement, and romantic warmth merge into a compelling listening experience.

 

 

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

 

Gaspar Cassadó

Sonata in Old Spanish Style, Op. 15 [approx. 12 min]

→ Evocative Baroque references, dance-like elegance, and rhythmic vitality.

 

Gaspar Cassadó

Allegretto grazioso [approx. 5 min]

→ A graceful and buoyant miniature, full of charm and effortless lightness.

 

Gaspar Cassadó

Pastorale [approx. 6 min]

→ Gentle, flowing melodies that paint delicate images of nature and calm landscapes.

 

Gerolamo Frescobaldi (arr. Cassadó) 

Tockate [approx. 7 min]

→ Baroque finesse rendered in a modern sonority, bringing the cello to new expressive depth.

 

Gaspar Cassadó

Requiebros [approx. 8 min]

→ A virtuosic solo piece, rhythmically bold and imbued with passionate Spanish flair.

 

The duration of the programme can be adjusted.

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