This special concert, promoted by Gainsborough’s House in association with SVF, celebrates Sonia Wronkowska’s extraordinary discovery of at least 25 unknown viola da gamba sonatas by Carl Friedrich Abel (1723-87) from the collection of Count Joachim Carl von Maltzan (1733-1817), now at the University of Poznań.  Maltzan was Prussian ambassador in London from 1776 to 1782 and one of the circle of pupils and admirers of Abel that also included Thomas Gainsborough. The new sonatas are mostly mature, sophisticated and virtuoso works, composed for Abel himself to play in his celebrated London concerts, in contrast to those known hitherto, which are nearly all undemanding teaching pieces.  Abel was the greatest viola da gamba player of his day, an elegant and accomplished composer, to be ranked with his friends Johann Christian Bach and the young Mozart.

Mark Caudle divides his time as a viola da gamba virtuoso between East Anglia and Poland, and has appeared at SVF many times. He and the Polish cellist Teresa Kamińska will give the world premiere of some of the new Abel sonatas in London shortly before our concert.

Pre-concert talks 5.30-6.30pm at Gainsborough’s House, Sudbury:
Mark Bills Gainsborough and Abel
Peter Holman Abel and the Viola da Gamba
Sonia Wronkowska An Exciting Discovery