Bach's Cello Suites are structured with a prelude followed by five dances, but each suite develops its own distinct character.
Instruments
Bach chose to compose for the relatively new cello, a powerful and wide-ranging instrument, seeing it as inherently melodic and expressive, much like the human voice.
Composer's Artistic Vision
J.S. Bach believed music should be a pleasant harmony celebrating God and the soul's permitted pleasures.
Composition History
The Six Cello Suites were composed without the typical constraints of a commission or for a specific performer, allowing Bach to establish a 'bible' for the instrument.
Critical Reception
Tatjana Vassiljeva's discography has led music critics to nickname her 'the new diva of the cello'.
Interpretation
Tatjana Vassiljeva's interpretation of Bach's Cello Suites emphasizes joy and energy, rejecting a melancholic approach to the music.
Performer Biography
Tatjana Vassiljeva, the cellist on this recording, won the First Grand Prix at the Rostropovitch Competition in Paris in 2001, launching her international career.
