IFor the past decade, mandolinist and multi-instrumentalist Alon Sariel has been breathing new life into the mandolin, inspiring critics and audiences alike with his contagious musicianship and flawless technique, which makes him today's mandolinist of the first rank.
With a record of over a thousand concerts in more than 35 countries, including performances in Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw, Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, Brazil’s Sala São Paulo or Mexico‘s Palacio de Bellas Artes, he maintains a multifaceted career as a soloist, chamber player and artistic director in diverse productions.
With Sariel’s ever-growing curiosity for different cultures and genres, various plucked instruments find their way to his hands and often - "when it clicks", as he puts it - they come to stay. In his concerts, he easily switches between those “plucked partners” to create diverse musical experiences for his audiences.
In his current recording series "Plucked Bach" (PENTATONE), Alon Sariel approaches Bach's solo music in enticing new arrangements on different mandolins and lutes, the baroque guitar, oud and baglama. For the Beethoven anniversary in 2020, he was invited by Naxos to record the composer's works for mandolin and fortepiano. With his album "Telemandolin" (Berlin Classics) Sariel has become the first mandolinist to be awarded an OPUS KLASSIK.
Alon Sariel has been appointed Artistic Director of the concert series at 't Huis te Poort in the Netherlands. He is also a member of the Foundation Committee of the International Handel Festival in Göttingen.
Born in Israel and a Viennese by choice, he is a Goodwill Ambassador for the animal welfare organization Pro Animale. In his free time, he enjoys spending time in nature, reading or meditating.
Photo: © Friedhard Neumann