Elinor Frey

Elinor Frey (born August 23, 1979) is a Canadian-American cellist, specializing in music of the eighteenth century. She specializes in the music of underperformed composers from the later part of the baroque era, and has recorded this repertoire on the Passacaille label. In addition to her main focus on early music, she has a background in contemporary music, and has commissioned new works for the baroque cello, recording several of them.

Biography Elinor Frey was born in Seattle, Washington, and started playing the cello at a young age. She was exposed to early music from an early age by listening to recordings of her aunt, the pioneering vocalist Barbara Thornton. She now leads the Accademia dei Dissonanti, an organization for performance and research. She maintains a busy performance schedule, concertizing and recording across Canada, the US and Europe. She made her Australian debut in 2023, playing concertos with the Brandenburg Orchestra. Her extensive discography, of largely unknown repertoire, on the Passacaille and Analekta record labels, has won several prizes and critical acclaim. In addition to recording, she has also made critical editions of the complete cello music of Giuseppe Clemente Dall'Abaco and Antonio Vandini.

She is on the faculty of the Schulich School of Music at McGill University and the Université de Montréal, teaching baroque cello and performance practice.

Awards and honors

2016 - Prix Opus: Disque de l’année (Musiques Médiévale, de la renaissance, Baroque), "Berlin Sonatas" 2020 - Diapason d'Or for "Giuseppe Clemente Dall'Abaco Cello Sonatas" 2021 - Prix Opus: "Performer of the Year" 2019-2020 2023 - Juno Award: Classical Album of the Year (small ensemble) for Early Italian Cello Concertos 2024 - Prix Opus: Disque de l’année (Musiques Médiévale, de la renaissance, Baroque), for "Jean Baur: Chamber Music"

Discography As featured soloist

2008 - "Dialoghi" with David Fung Piano. Yarlung Records. 2013 - "La Voce del Violoncello" with Esteban La Rotta and Susie Napper. Passacaille Records 2022 - "The Cello According to Dall'Abaco" with Catherine Jones, Federica Bianchi and Michele Pasotti. Passacaille Records 2021 - "Distance" Choir of the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul dir Jean-Sébasitien Vallée ATMA Classique Frey, Elinor. 2017. “Sonatas for Violoncello and Arias with Obbligato Violoncello : From the Como Manuscript I-COc, 2808 Autori Vari (XVII-XVIII Sec.); Edited by Elinor Frey.” Albese con Cassano: Musedita. Frey, Elinor. 2018. “On Commissioning New Music for Baroque Cello.” Circuit 28 (2): 11–23. . Frey, Elinor, ed. 2020. “6 Sonate Manoscritte per Violoncello E B.C., Ms. I-Vnm, D-B, F-PN.” Albese con Cassano: Musedita. Frey, Elinor, ed. 2020. “35 Sonaten FüR Violoncello Und Basso Continuo. Band IV, 8 Sonaten (ABV 32 - ABV 39).” Magdeburg: Walhall. Frey, Elinor, ed. 2020. “35 Sonaten FüR Violoncello Und Basso Continuo. Band V, 7 Sonaten (ABV 40 - 46 ).” Magdeburg: Edition Walhall. Elinor Frey ed. 2021. “35 Sonaten FüR Violoncello Und Basso Continuo--Band III - 8 Sonaten (ABV 24-31).” Magdeburg: Edition Walhall. Frey, Elinor, ed. 2021. “35 Sonaten Für Violoncello Und Basso Continuo. Band I, 6 Sonaten (ABV 12-17).” Magdeburg: Edition Walhall. Frey, Elinor, ed. 2022. “Zwei Trios ABV 54-55, Für 3 Violoncelli.” Magdeburg: Edition Walhall. Frey, Elinor, ed. 2022. “Drei Duette ABV 47-49, Für 2 Violoncelli.” Magdeburg: Edition Walhall. Frey, Elinor, ed. 2022. “35 Sonaten Für Violoncello Und Basso Continuo. Band II, 6 Sonaten (ABV 18-23).” Edited by Elinor Frey. Magdeburg: Edition Walhall.