Eduardo Vassallo
Eduardo Vassallo began his studies in his native Buenos Aires, Argentina, and by the age of 17 he was a founder member of the String Quartet of the National Radio, and the solo cellist of the National Symphony Orchestra.
He then came to Europe to continue his studies at the International Menuhin Music Academy in Gstaad, Switzerland, where, as a member of the Camerata Lysy Gstaad, he took part in numerous recordings, and toured throughout the world, working closely with Sir Yehudi Menuhin and Alberto Lysy.
Following a move to Germany, Eduardo became increasingly active in the field of contemporary music, as a member of the WNC Ensemble für Moderne Musik. In 1989 he became Principal Cellist of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, firstly under the musical direction of Sir Simon Rattle, then Sakari Oramo and now Andris Nelsons.
He was one of the founding directors of the Birmingham Ensemble (a chamber group drawn from the ranks of the CBSO). He has also guest-led the cello sections of the Philharmonia, the Royal Philharmonic and London Philharmonic Orchestras, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
As a soloist he has given recitals throughout Europe and South America, and has appeared frequently with various orchestras. In Birmingham, he has performed Bloch's Schelomo, Shostakovich 1st Cello Concerto , Haydn D Major Cello Concerto and Elgar Cello Concerto with the CBSO.
In England he gave the world premieres of the Sonata for cello and piano and the Duo II for violin and cello by his compatriot Jorge Bosso, and the Sinfonia Concertante by Indian composer Vanraj Bhatia. In Buenos Aires he gave the first performance of the cello concerto "Auris Concertum" by Argentine Alejandro Civilloti with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Buenos Aires, and the Grand Tango by Astor Piazzolla.
Eduardo has released two solo recital CDs, one devoted to works by Latin American Masters on the ASV label, and "Tangos by Piazzolla" on the Somm label.
His love for the tango led him to form "El Ultimo Tango”, a quintet dedicated to music from Buenos Aires, with whom he has released two CDs. He was also a guest artist on the CD "Conception" by the jazz fusion John Turville Trio.
In 2009, he formed a collaboration with Tim Garland (saxophone) and Marcelo Nisinman (bandoneon) to create a multimedia jazz/tango fusion show called Transtango, first performed in the Bloomsbury Theatre in London, then at various festivals around the country (Salisbury Festival, Vamos Festival Newcastle, Buxton Festival etc). As a result of this collaboration, the CBSO commissioned Tim Garland to write a double concerto for cello and saxophone to celebrate Eduardo's 20 years in the orchestra, which he performed with the composer under the direction of Christian Jarvi.
Eduardo teaches at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and has taught at summer courses in Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, England, and South America. He participates annually in the International Festival of Chamber Music in Formosa, Argentina, and founded and directs the Latin-American Cello Festival, which takes place every two years in Buenos Aires.
Eduardo Vassallo plays a Paolo Testore cello made in Milan 1710 and a Ferdinando Gagliano cello made in Napoli 1792.