Octavie Dostaler-Lalonde, cello
Artem Belogurov, fortepiano

The modern cello is a beloved and familiar instrument, whose shape and tuning are strongly standardised today. Yet this modern familiarity hides an origin that was rich in variety. Large parts of the cello’s earlier years and development remain obscure today, and even a cursory exploration reveals a wide array of sizes, techniques, tunings, number of strings and names for the bass instrument of the violin family. This program is centered around what was sometimes called the “tenor violin”: a smaller sized cello with a tuning one fifth higher than the modern cello tuning, which appears to have existed in various countries during the 18th century. This mysteriously lost "tenor" voice of the violin family is perfectly suited to a significant portion of the repertoire from Germany around the middle of the 18th century. Its delicate tone brings out the elegant, light, and detailed character of this music. Through this program we will explore unknown gems from Germany, mostly from the schools of Mannheim and Berlin with music by composers like Franz Benda, Christoph Schaffrath, and Anton Filtz.