Alba Villar Cairó

Alba Villar Cairó is a cellist and gambist specializing in the Baroque cello and viola da gamba. Born in Barcelona, she is based in Brussels. After earning an honors degree in modern cello, she turned to historically informed performance and continued her training at the ESMUC (Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya), then in Brussels with Philippe Pierlot and Hervé Douchy.

She has developed a practice centered on early music, combining stylistic research, continuo work, and ensemble playing. She performs with several specialized ensembles, notably the Bach Collegium Barcelona and The Ministers of Pastime, at festivals and during concert seasons across Europe.

Her career is part of an effort to rediscover the repertoires of the 17th and 18th centuries, combined with a vibrant and contemporary approach to historical performance. She regularly participates in chamber music and ensemble projects, exploring the connections between the Baroque cello and the viola da gamba.