Maddalena Del Gobbo

Dear friends, big news very soon! Stay tuned for a very special upcoming project!

Very excited about starting next week with the new recording! The new album will be full of very special music, played on a very special instrument!

What a wonderful experience today! I visited a school in Vienna with two viols (the bass viol and the soprano viol), and I made a lesson presenting the viola da gamba. I played and talked about the instruments and tried to show to the class why the viol is a wonderful instrument.
The kids were amazing. So interested and kind, despite they don´t have a classic musical education, they asked me a lot of question and were very brave, daring to try to play the soprano viol. They really saw a viol for the first time today, but they were not bored. They couldn't believe that the instrument I am playing is more that 300 years old. It was also very interesting for me to observe their reaction as I told them, that the strings are made of gut. A loud "iiiiiihhhh" came from the class, but after my explanation they were even more curious. I also spotted some talents, like a boy who managed to play really nice bowing at the very first try. So, if only one of this kids will be more interested in music after today, then I would really be thankful and happy. Small steps, but in the right directions. And all my respect to the teacher, who really works wonderfully with them, and tries to widen their horizons every day.

The most asked question by the audience, journalists, classical musicians and nearly everybody is: “why do you play the viol?” and the comment I really can´t hear anymore is something like “Oh, you played the cello? (with a sad face) Oh…I love the cello”. Makes me feel like I could immediately stop playing the viol, because anybody cares, anyway.

But then, there are moments at concerts when I feel that the audience is really thankful about my music and I have the feeling that they really enjoyed it. So, besides the fact that I love playing the viol, these moments are part of the reason I play this instrument and I spend a lot of energy trying to convince the world that the viola da gamba is a great instrument, and that people should not be afraid about scheduling it at major classical music festivals. Sometimes it works, this makes me really happy! There are actually many supporters of the viola da gamba in my life, I really feel blessed (in this occasion I would like to thank them all! ). It´s just a pity, that there is still the idea of an unknown and boring stringed instrument, that plays very old music and, in addition to it, also can´t play forte. Let me tell you something (and every baroque music lover and viola da gamba player will agree): the viola da gamba has a great sound, and the music for it is everything but boring. If you don´t believe me, just listen to one of hundreds of recordings that proves my statement. Enjoy the music.

And, just to answer other common questions: no, I don´t play in an orchestra (it´s not a cello) and yes, believe it or not, I really do this for living (and again, no, I am really not playing the cello anymore).

The new album "Henriette - The Princess of the Viol" for Deutsche Grammophon is now worldwide available! So you can ask you favourite CD shop or order your copy online!

I am so excited to announce my cooperation with SONOR WINES! In Spring there will be a new wine, made under the influence of the music of the new album "Henriette - The Princess of the Viol"! Curious? More informations here...stay tuned!
In the meantime you can visit this site:
www.sonorwines.com

I am really happy to announce, that the new album for Deutsche Grammophon, "Henriette, The Princess of the Viol" has been finally released! For now, it´s only out in stores in Austria, but you can already buy it online internationally in many ways. Soon I will share with you more informations about releases in other countries!
Here a link to the CD:
http://uma.lnk.to/del_gobbo_2016

Sind Sie schon gespannt auf das neue Album? Morgen werden ersten Kostproben der neuen CD "Henriette - The Princess of the Viol" ab 11 Uhr auf Radio Klassik, in der Sendung von Ursula Magnes, "Starke Frauen", gespielt. Hier den Link für mehr Informationen:
https://radioklassik.at/starke-frauen/

I am very happy and proud to announce, that my new album "HENRIETTE - The Princess of the Viol" is to be released on September 29th. This album is an homage to Princess Anne Henriette of France, a daughter of King Louis XV. She was an extraordinary viol player and inspired many composers of her time. Together with Christoph Prendl (viol), Michele Carreca (Theorbo, baroque guitar) and Ewald Donhoffer (Harpsichord) we play music by Marin Marais, Jean-Baptiste Forqueray and Louis de Caix d`Hervelois.
Come with us and discover the wonderful world of Madame Henriette of France!

"Henriette - The Princess of the Viol" (Deutsche Grammophon), Release Date: 29th September 2016, will be available at music stores and online.

Happy Birthday Marin Marais, born on this day 1656. I can´t express in words how much I love his music. For me there is no music like Marais music. Every time I play one of his pieces, I say to myself how lucky I am that I am able to play this wonderful instrument and his music.
Thank you for this amazing legacy

Heute Abend hatte ich das Glück bei einem besonderen Event dabei zu sein. Prof.Jose Vazquez, der bekannte Barockspezialist und Gambist hielt einen Vortrag in der Wiener Musikuniversität über zwei der drei Gambensonaten von J.S.Bach.
Nach sehr interessanten Erklärungen über die Sonaten, spielte Prof.Vazquez beide vor, begleitet von Prof. Ingomar Rainer. Die unglaublich interessanten Details, die Prof.Vazquez zum Vorschein kommen ließ waren höchst beeindruckend. Deutungen über die Symbolik in Bachs Werk, die Affekte und die Bedeutung der einzelne Sätze,die die Musik noch mehr zum Leben erweckten. Einen wirklich gelungenen Vortrag, der die Vielfalt und das Genie Bachs noch einmal betonten.
Ich bin sehr froh, dabei gewesen zu sein, auch weil ich diese Sonaten schon öfters gespielt habe, und in Zukunft öfters spielen werde. Der Vortrag hat mir einige interessante Anregungen gegeben und neue Facetten gezeigt, um diese Sonaten noch spannender und verständlicher zu interpretieren.