Bach: Six Suites for Violoncello
Marc Sabbah (viola)
Prospero PROSP0134 143:30 mins
It would be hard to imagine the modern string repertoire without the solo violin and cello music Bach composed during his time as court composer to Prince Leopold at Cöthen in the late 1710s and early 1720s.
The combination of Préludes followed by a familiar set of dances may have been standard, but the technical brilliance, command of rhythm, ornament and articulation they demand go far beyond the conventional.
Violinists and cellists are, of course, well served by these works, but what about viola players? Bach and his contemporaries were entirely at ease with creative adaptation, and there’s no reason why performers today shouldn’t adopt their pragmatic approach.
Marc Sabbah makes a magnificent case for the viola throughout this recording, not least in matching the scale of his tone with tempo. The celebrated Prélude to the First Suite may be on the fast side, but the persuasive feeling of growth toward the more improvisatory later stages is thoroughly convincing.
The statelier dances have grace and finesse, a case in point being the Allemande of the C minor Suite with a breadth of phrasing that is unfailingly directed toward the overall shape. Likewise the Sarabandes, where care over detail is always at the service of the melodic line.
The faster movements are a persuasive mix of elegance and enthusiasm; the famous Bourées of the C major Suite, for example, have an infectious bounce and the Gigues a real sense of fun. Sabbah’s tone is beautifully focused with vibrato used sparingly as an effective means of pointing phrasing.
These carefully crafted performances continually draw the listener’s attention and offer a handsome supplement to the cello originals.
