Bach: Cello Suites David Watkin

• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750): Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007:
• 1 Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: I. Prélude 02:15
• 2 Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: II. Allemande 04:40
• 3 Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: III. Courante 02:42
• 4 Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: IV. Sarabande 02:51
• 5 Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: V. Menuet I & II 03:48
• 6 Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: VI. Gigue 01:43
• Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009:
• 7 Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: I. Prélude 03:01
• 8 Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: II. Allemande 04:14
• 9 Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: III. Courante 03:08
• 10 Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: IV. Sarabande 04:37
• 11 Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: V. Bourrée I & II 04:00
• 12 Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: VI. Gigue 03:15
• Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011:
• 13 Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: I. Prélude 06:37
• 14 Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: II. Allemande 07:09
• 15 Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: III. Courante 02:36
• 16 Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: IV. Sarabande 03:39
• 17 Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: V. Gavotte I & II 05:34
• 18 Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: VI. Gigue 02:29
• Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008:
• 19 Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: I. Prélude 03:19
• 20 Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: II. Allemande 03:40
• 21 Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: III. Courante 02:04
• 22 Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: IV. Sarabande 05:13
• 23 Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: V. Menuet I & II 04:01
• 24 Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: VI. Gigue 02:55
• Suite No. 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010:
• 25 Suite No. 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010: I. Preludium 03:28
• 26 Suite No. 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010: II. Allemande 04:05
• 27 Suite No. 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010: III. Courante 03:25
• 28 Suite No. 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010: IV. Sarabande 03:41
• 29 Suite No. 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010: V. Bourree I & II 06:24
• 30 Suite No. 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010: VI. Gigue 02:50
• Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012:
• 31 Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: I. Prelude 04:56
• 32 Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: II. Allemande 08:49
• 33 Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: III. Courante 03:43
• 34 Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: IV. Sarabande 04:59
• 35 Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: V. Gavotte I & II 04:56
• 36 Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: VI. Gigue 04:14
• Total Runtime 02:25:00

Info for Bach: Cello Suites

Renowned cellist and interpreter of Baroque music David Watkin records the Cello Suites by J.S. Bach, rightly considered as the pinnacle of writing for solo cello. Juror of the Leipzig Bach Competition; former principal cellist of the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique & the English Baroque Soloists, as well as the cellist of the critically acclaimed Eroica Quartet, Watkin gives a captivating and truly individual account of the six suites, the result of decades of performing and studying these compelling and fascinating works.

The six Suites are recorded on gut strings and on two original historic instruments of note, including the unique five-string cello by Brothers Amati, dating from c. 1600, and a four-string by a likely pupil of Amati, Francesco Rugeri, dating from c. 1670.

„From first hearing the Toccata and Fugue in d minor as a child, to taking part in the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage in 2000 and sitting on the Jury at the Leipzig Bach Competition in 2012, Bach has always had a special place in my life. But 2013 is turning out to be a ‘Bach year’ for me. A few weeks ago I took part in Sir John Eliot Gardiner’s TV programme (which will be broadcast at Easter by the BBC). I recorded the G major Prelude and gave some interviews, but more importantly it was a great chance to catch up with some of the other participants from the incredible Bach Cantata Pilgrimage 2000. Also in Cantata 68, there was a chance to try out the Royal Academy of Music’s beautiful 5 string Amati cello which belonged to one of my teachers, Amarylis Fleming. It’s an astonishing instrument, and I’m very excited to be using it for the 6th Suite later this year.

Earlier this year I conducted the 3rd and 4th Orchestral Suites at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, with their Baroque Orchestra – every one of them ready to risk everything for the music! Then it was Webern’s arrangement of the Ricercar in 6 parts from the Musical Offering with SCO and Robin Ticciati. In the Summer there is a late night Prom with EBS/Gardiner, and in the run up to Christmas I’m performing the 6th Suite at Queen’s Hall and then conducting Cantata 110 Unser Mund sei Voll Lachens in a concert with Manchester Consort.

But my main focus in 2013 will be a recording for Resonus Classics of all 6 Suites, which will happen in two chunks, Spring and Winter. In preparation, I will be putting on as many performances of the Suites as possible, as well as introducing and exploring them at various events.

Having performed the Suites at very special places in Bach's life - sitting by the font in which he was baptised in Eisenach and at Frederick the Great's Palace in Potsdam - it was a pleasure to play the First Suite recently at Leighton House in London. Alfredo Piatti was a regular performer at 'Musics' there, including perhaps some of the first performances of the Suites after Bach's lifetime.

David Watkin, baroque cello

David Watkin
“He not only brings that dedicated scholarly view of playing characteristic of period instrument specialists, but he plays with such huge commitment. He is a great inspiration to me, especially in Mozart.” (Sir Charles Mackerras , BBC Music Magazine)

David Watkin studied the cello with William Pleeth, whilst reading Music at Cambridge, where he was also a Choral Scholar. He was a Shell/LSO Finalist and was Principal cello in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, receiving the Bulgin Medal for outstanding contribution. Since then he has been Principal Cello in some of the world’s leading ensembles including English Baroque Soloists, Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. As Principal Cello in the Philharmonia Orchestra, he opened the first season in the new Philharmonie, Luxemburg with William Tell under Muti, and performed solos ranging from those in Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto under Mackerras, to the computer game ‘Medal of Honour’. He is now Principal Cello in SCO.

Watkin has made a wide range of acclaimed recordings including the Vivaldi Sonatas (Hyperion) and Haydn's Sinfonia Concertante with OAE (Virgin). With pianist Howard Moody he has recorded Beethoven Sonatas (Chandos) and Francis Pott's 1996 Sonata (Guild). Their London debut in 1988 was described by The Times as "absolutely electrifying". They have since broadcast regularly on BBC Radio 3 and performances have included the complete works for piano and cello by Beethoven at Wigmore Hall. He has been a soloist at Barbican, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Carnegie Hall, New York and performed the Schumann Concerto with Sir John Eliot Gardiner and ORR at Lincoln Center, New York. As a guest artist he has collaborated with, among others, Robert Levin and Fredericka von Stade.

Unaccompanied Bach has taken him all over Europe, from the Palace of Frederick the Great at Potsdam to the Prague Spring Festival, and included performances as part of Sir John Eliot Gardiner's Bach Cantata Pilgrimage, sitting by the font in which Bach was baptised. He was a juror for the Leipzig Bach Competition.

David Watkin has revived the eighteenth-century practice of realising figured bass (improvising chordal accompaniments) on the cello and used it in recordings from Corelli with Andrew Manze (hmusa) to Mozart with Sir Charles Mackerras /SCO (DGG) and OAE (Chandos). His writings about this and other aspects of music have been published by Early Music, The Strad and the Cambridge University Press volume Performing Beethoven.

As a founder member of the Eroica Quartet he has performed all over Europe and the US, including at Wigmore Hall, the Frick Collection, New York, and the Library of Congress, Washington. They have recorded to great acclaim the complete quartets of Mendelssohn and Schumann and a Beethoven disc (hmusa), the world premiere recording of Mendelssohn’s Octet original version and quartets by Debussy and Ravel (Resonus).

Having worked under, and received guidance from some of the leading conductors of the age, conducting is now an increasingly important part of his music making. He has conducted a wide range of repertoire with groups including the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Swedish Baroque Orchestra, the Academy of Ancient Music and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Plans for 2013 include further performances of Schubert's C major Quintet with the Tokyo Quartet (following their recording for hmusa), a recording of the complete Bach Suites and a recording of the G major Prelude for a TV programme with Gardiner. Conducting engagements include a return to the Meadows Chamber Orchestra, Manchester Consort and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

Booklet for Bach: Cello Suites