Théotime Voisin and Maurice van Schoonhoven perform Bottesini’s fiendishly difficult Fantasia Cerrito. The work likely refers to the famous Italian ballet dancer and choreographer of the time, Fanny Cerrito (1817-1909), showcasing the virtuosity and lyricism of Bottesini.

This video is part of the Bottesini2021 project, celebrating the legendary bassist and composer’s 200th anniversary in the midst of the pandemic. Voisin and van Schoonhoven have been duo partners for four years, deciding to record Bottesini’s complete works for double bass and piano - comprising of over 20 works and totalling more than three hours of music. Their video recordings are available to watch on YouTube here.

Voisin has been assistant principal double bass of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra since 2016, having previously served as principal bass for the Swiss Romande Orchestra in Geneva as well as the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse. Now serving on the faculty of the Royal Conservatoire at The Hague, he is a graduate of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon, Haute Ecole de Musique de Genève, Bern Hochschule der Künste and Freiburg Musikhochschule. Voisin plays a double bass crafted by French maker Jean Auray. 

 

Listen: The Strad Podcast Episode #21: Leon Bosch on Bottesini

Watch: Bassist Dominik Wagner performs Hauta-aho’s Kadenza

Watch: Schubert String Quartet no.14 in D minor ‘Death and the Maiden’ for bass quartet

Read: A moving tale: Travelling with a double bass

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