Antonio Vandini was born around 1690 in Bologna, the city where the cello knew its first glories as a solo instrument. He held several assignments in Bergamo, Venice and later Padua, where he developed a friendship with Giovanni Tartini. His virtuosity was brought to fame by Charles Burney who defined him the famous old Antonio Vandini on the violoncello who, the Italians say, plays and expresses a parlare, that is in such a manner as to make his instrument speak. Vandinis cello works are the apex of the instruments output of his time, for the persistent exploration of the high register, the frequent use of double stopping, arpeggios and chords even in unusual combinations, a variety of bowing techniques, and rapid passages.

In Antonio Vandini: Complete Works, cellist Elinor Frey and Passacaille Records present the six sonatas and one concerto of one of the most noteworthy and fascinating Italian cellist-composers of the 18th century. Antonio Vandini's works span from 1717 in Venice (just a few years before he taught at the La Pieta school alongside the legendary Vivaldi) to about the 1750's when his last sonatas were written (probably as he toured the world with his musical partner, the famous violinist, Giuseppe Tartini). Captivated by Vandini's ability to draw out some of the finest qualities of the cello by expertly blending both lyricism and virtuosity, Frey, cellist-musicologist Marc Vanscheeuwijck, and gambist Patxi Montero together explored Vandini's particular playing techniques.

Settecento is the style of art, music and architecture that emerged in Italy in the early 18th century, celebrated here by La Serenissima and Adrian Chandler with a collection of works from that era. The works are grouped by the areas of Italy where each composer worked, including the Kingdom of Naples (Scarlatti, Mancini), Republic of Venice (DallAbaco, Vandini, Tartini & Vivaldi) and the Papal States / Bologna (Brescianello). The ensemble La Serenissima is recognized as the UKs leading exponent of the music of 18th-century Venice and connected composers. Uniquely, the groups entire repertoire is edited from manuscript or contemporary sources.