Presented by Britten Pears Arts
Running time: 2 hours, including a 20 minute interval.
Suitable for all.
charity. comedy. family. live music. opera. play. poetry. storytelling.
The remarkable Guy Johnston performs Bach and Britten: elegant suites for cello, in a magical setting.
Bach’s Cello Suites stand as monuments in the cello repertoire, pieces every professional player feels they should tackle at least once. Pablo Casals, the first modern cellist to play the Suites in their entirety, once wrote of their “radiance of space and poetry” and that “they are the very essence of Bach, and Bach is the essence of music”. No.2 is scurrying and introverted in character, while No.4 – considered one of the hardest of the group – has an austere nobility.
Britten composed his three Cello Suites for Mstislav Rostropovich, but with Bach very much sitting on his shoulder. Equally inspired by his revered predecessor and the flamboyant talents of Slava, the Suites are structured into Baroque-style movements, filtered through Britten’s distinctive language. The First is anchored to a soulful, singing theme, emphasising the cello’s affinity with the human voice. His Third Suite is even more personal to his Russian friend: a gradual reveal of Russian folksongs, simple and almost unadorned by the end.
Guy Johnston always brings an expressive empathy to his performances. This recital in the atmospheric surroundings of Thorington will be special indeed.
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