Prom 68: Bach – Six Cello Suites (5.09.15)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.00 p.m.
Royal Albert Hall


Bach: Suite No. 1 in G major for solo cello, BWV 1007
Bach: Suite No. 2 in D minor for solo cello, BWV 1008
Bach: Suite No. 3 in C major for solo cello, BWV 1009
Bach: Suite No. 4 in E flat major for solo cello, BWV 1010
Bach: Suite No. 5 in C minor for solo cello, BWV 1011
Bach: Suite No. 6 in D major for solo cello, BWV 1012

Yo-Yo Ma, cello

American cellist Yo-Yo Ma has been a regular Proms soloist for almost 40 years, and now tackles perhaps his boldest performance to date. He performs the complete Bach solo cello suites - over two hours of music - in a single concert: a feat as challenging intellectually as it is physically. Though neglected until the 20th century, the suites represent some of Bach's greatest musical achievements - music at its purest and most profound. Ma's relationship with them extends back over many decades and multiple recordings, generating expressive performances distinguished by their depth of emotion.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

...and now tackles perhaps his boldest performance to date.

We can expect some superb cello playing, but saturation programming of this kind isn't really "bold" - more of a cop-out, as it requires the minimum of thought, resulting in huge demands for the soloist (however willing) and possibly a touch of monotony for the listeners.

[Bryn]

We can expect some superb cello playing, but saturation programming of this kind isn't really "bold" - more of a cop-out, as it requires the minimum of thought, resulting in huge demands for the soloist (however willing) and possibly a touch of monotony for the listeners.

"Ooh, in'ee bold?"

[Darkbloom]

I still haven't made up my mind whether I'm going to see this. These gimmicky concerts don't help the music, in the same was as the Prokofiev-a-thon was more of an 'event' than anything else. I can't help thinking that three of these is the medium dose for an adult and the rest will be sheer overkill, especially in that hall.

[Richard Tarleton]

I've been a bit dubious about Yo-Yo Ma and Bach since this - but if he's just sitting there playing them I don't suppose too much can go wrong, unless we have back projections or dancers or something (I'll be recording the TV broadcast on 10 Sept for viewing in bite-sized chunks).

After explaining how the first Cello Suite always conjures up images of nature, Yo-Yo Ma recruits architect Julie Moir Messervy to help him try and design a garden based on the suite.

The Bach cello suites don't conjure up images of anything for me, they're just sublime, pure music.

[Darkbloom]

I'm a bit curious how a performer goes about such a huge undertaking. When you are playing the whole lot in one go do you play each one as a discrete work in its own right? Or, do you have to treat them as movements in a huge symphony? I would have thought playing the hell out of each one would require too much from the performer in terms of stamina and concentration (let alone the prommers in the arena!) and you might have to hold back at times so that you can finish as strongly as you started.

I really don't know the answer to this, but I would have thought you would need to take an approach similar to a conductor tackling a Wagner opera if you are to make the evening a success.

[Roehre]

I don't think it's a good idea. For me it would definitely be overkill.
Spread over two night would IMO preferable.
(And because of this IMO overlong concert no Hear & Now this Saturday )

[richardfinegold]

I heard Jakob Lindberg perform all 6 on the lute in one concert. I was cringing a bit at the thought of it, but it worked fairly well.

[Bryn]

I heard Jakob Lindberg perform all 6 on the lute in one concert. I was cringing a bit at the thought of it, but it worked fairly well.

Thanks, and Yo-Yo Ma has nothing to fret about. [I'll collect my groat.]

[Keraulophone]

Must remember to take my ear trumpet and telescope, and possibly a yo-yo to keep me awake.

[Flosshilde]

I heard Jakob Lindberg perform all 6 on the lute in one concert. I was cringing a bit at the thought of it, but it worked fairly well.

Was the cringe induced by the idea of them being played on a lute, or all 6 being played in one evening, or the idea of listening to an unaccompanied lute for that length of time?

[MickyD]

I am reminded of an evening here in Arles, when Jordi Savall gave an entire concert of music of solo gamba music - despite the high quality of the artist and the music, it really was (for my ears anyway) too much to handle all in one sitting.

[Bryn]

"One man. One cello"

Why only one cello? BWV 1012 was written for a 5 string instrument. Open/stopped string nuance is vitiated if played on a larger 4 string instrument.

[Nick Armstrong]

"One man. One cello"

That portentous **** from Service made me switch off with an oath...

[Pegleg]

"One man. One cello"

Why only one cello? BWV 1012 was written for a 5 string instrument. Open/stopped string nuance is vitiated if played on a larger 4 string instrument.

Not all 5 string cellos are "cello piccolo", see the instrument used by Viola de Hoog - https://youtu.be/tN8-8YAHtws

But the "One man. One cello" statement is so stupid, and surely to God is not literally true in this.