Description

Celebration of Pablo Casals & Gaspar Cassadó

Lluís Claret, Minhye Choi & 12CELLOS of the Fredericksburg Music Festival 

June 20, 2026 • 7:00 PM
St Joseph’s Halle • Fredericksburg, Texas

The Fredericksburg Music Festival & School proudly presents an extraordinary evening honoring the great Catalan cello tradition with legendary cellist Lluís Claret, pianist Minhye Choi, and the 12CELLOS of the Fredericksburg Music Festival.

Described as a meeting of “two giants of the Catalan cello school,” this special anniversary concert celebrates the 150th anniversary of Pablo Casals while commemorating the 60th anniversary of the passing of Gaspar Cassadó — two towering musical figures whose artistry transformed the cello in the twentieth century.

The evening explores the deeply personal and expressive musical worlds of Casals and Cassadó through rarely performed masterworks filled with Mediterranean color, lyricism, dance, and profound emotional depth.

The first half features Pablo Casals’ intimate and poetic works for cello and piano, spanning more than two decades of his compositional life. These elegant miniatures reveal the legendary artist not only as a virtuoso performer, but as a composer of refinement, warmth, and unmistakable Catalan character.

The program continues with Gaspar Cassadó’s monumental Sonata nello stile antico spagnuolo, the virtuosic and highly imaginative Partita dedicated to Gregor Piatigorsky, and the fiery Requiebros, dedicated to Casals himself — music that blends Spanish folk influence, baroque inspiration, and dazzling cello virtuosity.

Set within the historic atmosphere of St Joseph’s Halle in Fredericksburg, this concert offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience one of the great living heirs of the Catalan cello tradition performing music deeply connected to his artistic lineage.

Program

Pablo Casals (1876–1973)

Five Pieces for Cello and Piano

• Pastoral (1893)
• Rêverie (1896)
• Full d’àlbum (1897)
• Romanza (1899)
• Poème (1917)

Gaspar Cassadó (1897–1966)

Sonata nello stile antico spagnuolo (1925)

• Introduzione e Allegro
• Grave
• Danza con Variazioni

Partita (to Gregor Piatigorsky, 1935)

• Alla tedesca. Allegro risoluto
• Inno. Maestoso
• Gagliarda (Moderato)
• La Caccia. Giga (Allegro moderato)

Requiebros (to Pablo Casals, 1931)

Lluís Claret is internationally celebrated as one of the foremost interpreters of the Catalan cello tradition and has performed throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Revered for the depth of his artistry, poetic musicianship, and profound connection to the lineage of Casals, Claret has inspired generations of musicians through both his performances and teaching.

Guests are encouraged to arrive early and enjoy an evening of music in one of Fredericksburg’s most intimate and acoustically vibrant venues. Advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended due to limited seating.