Duo Harp & Cello
The harp and cello: a musical friendship through the ages.
One of the closest and most celebrated friendships between instruments has always been that between the harp and the cello. The two instruments were never very popular as solo instruments, but found common ground in the world of chamber music. Since the Baroque period, many royal courts and noble families have commissioned a harp and cello duo, not only for their unique sound, which is so close to the human voice, but also for their ability to play repertoire from other instruments.
Together with cellist Christoph Bunzendahl, we take the audience on a journey through the centuries, presenting prominent works from the early Baroque to the late Romantic period. The repertoire showcases not only the purity of sound but also the technical virtuosity of both instruments. We will provide explanations and anecdotes, creating a vivid picture of the history of the harp and cello duo.
Works by Vivaldi, Boccherini, Hasselmans, Renié, Grandjany and Huber.
Christoph Bunzendahl - cello
Christoph Bunzendahl was born in Hannover, Germany, in 1977.
He began playing the cello at the age of six under the direction of Gerhard Pohl of the Nord Deutscher Rundfunk, Hannover. In 1991, his family moved to the United States, where he became a student of Professor Brent Wissick at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1995, he was admitted to Helga Winold's class at the renowned Indiana University in Bloomington, where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree. In 2000, he joined Professor Jaap Kruithof's class at the Royal Flemish Conservatory in Antwerp, Belgium. In 2004, he received his Master of Music degree. Bunzendahl has performed in masterclasses with Zara Nelsova, Janos Starker, Anner Bylsma, and Stephan Kates.
Bunzendahl has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe, the US, and Asia. He was a member of the Berliner Symphoniker, the National Honors Orchestra of America, the Antwerp Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Sinfonia Nuova Gandavense.
In 2022, he was selected as principal cellist of the Orfeo Orchestra, a position that also included performances with the Orfeo Quartet.
In 2021, Bunzendahl gained attention when he recorded the six Preludes by J.S. Bach in six iconic venues closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The project is titled "Alone, but not forgotten."
Since 2000, Bunzendahl has played a cello made by Christian Neubauer in Budae in 1833.