Meet

cellist

Antonio Pellegrino

Why were you looking for a different cello?

To bring historical performance practices to life as effectively as possible, I needed access to an authentic historical instrument. Respected musicians had encouraged me in various recent competitions and auditions to purchase a genuine historical cello. They claimed that playing early music on a “modern” instrument with gut strings would negatively affect my performances. I set out to find a refined cello with a pure tone, and my search led me to the magnificent collection of the Musical Instrument Fund.

Which instrument from the collection did you choose, and why?

I was fortunate enough to try out J.T. Cuypers’s magnificent cello from 1788, along with other wonderful instruments. It was love at first sight and sound. The impeccable quality of J.T. Cuypers’ instruments is unmatched. This particular cello possessed great power in the bass register and, at the same time, a delicate tenderness in the midrange. With added gut strings and a fine Baroque bridge and tailpiece (masterfully crafted by Guust François), the instrument’s resonance truly came to life. It certainly called for being played with a Baroque/Classical setup.

It is a great honor to bring this incredibly valuable piece of Dutch cultural heritage to life. I am very grateful for this opportunity and look forward to continuing my musical journey with this instrument.

Is it hard to say goodbye to your old cello?

I still own the cello I’ve been playing up until now. I keep it in its “modern” setup and use it occasionally for performances of contemporary music. So, although I haven’t really said goodbye to the old cello, the Cuypers will now take center stage in the repertoire I play every day.

Which concert are you most looking forward to performing at with your new instrument from the fund?

I’m really looking forward to performing with the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century in March at Amare (The Hague) and TivoliVredenburg (Utrecht). The Cuypers cello will also accompany me on the European Union Baroque Orchestra’s 2025 tour and will be featured in upcoming concerts with PRJCT Amsterdam, in addition to other exciting projects with fantastic ensembles. I’ll also be performing on the cello in Germany this year during concerts with Trio Tenorizans in Bad Krozingen and at Villa Ludwigshöhe (broadcast on SWR Kultur Radio).

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