Il Drago is a group from Germany, named after Domenico Dragonetti (1763 - 1846) who was the first double bassist of world wide importance. "Il Drago" was the affectionate nickname his friends called him. Nowadays, the composer Dragonetti is nearly forgotten. He is only still known for his works among double bass players. The group’s founder member is Andreas Schmidt, who is also a double bassist himself, and the group performs in different formations, from duos to chamber music, or joining up with large orchestras.

The combination of violoncello and double bass, which is presented here, was introduced to the London public in 1794 when Dragonetti was playing the double-bass and Robert Lindley the violoncello.

The music is here performed on period instruments of the 18^th century.

Andreas Schmidt

Andreas Schmidt was born in Berlin in 1961. He studied the double bass with Professor Rainer Zepperitz and has an impressive track record of having played with the Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra under Herbert von Karajan, Mannheim National Theatre, the Telemann-Kammerorchestra Michaelstein, Deutsche Symphonie Orchestra, Berlin, and also under the baton of Herbert von Karajan. He has also toured extensively with his beloved instrument - from USA to Japan, South America, and all over Europe. Festivals that he has participated in include the Salzburg Festspiele, the Schleswig-Holstein Festival and the Rheingau-Musikfestival.

Thilo Krigar

Thilo Krigar, born in 1961, studied the cello with Markus Nyikos, Stanislav Apolin, Siegfried Palm and Ottomar Borwitzky . He also studied musicology with Professor Carl Dahlhaus. From 1986 - 1988 he taught at the Conservatorio del Tolima, Columbia. As a soloist and chamber musician, he gives regular concerts throughout Europe, North and South America. He is also a composer specialising in Latin American music such as "Odyssee" and "Tango Vision".