About this Artist

• Biography

Editorial Reviews

The "correct" interpretation of the "Six Cello Suites" of J.S. Bach is among the most divergent and inconsistent concepts in music and certainly within the cello's own repertoire. Even masters of the instrument cannot decide themselves exactly how these gems should be performed as we see multiple recordings being produced by individual artists over the course of long careers. With all the choices out there, it becomes difficult to choose which set to purchase or which set is worth adding to an existing collection. This largely comes down to individual listener preference when deciding between the muscularity of Rostropovich, the nimbly Romantic first set of Yo-Yo Ma, the precision of Starker, or the elegance of Fournier. The list, of course, does not stop there, as this celebrated set by Paul Tortelier proves. What makes Tortelier's playing of the suites different, however, is that while other artists seem to try to leave their own mark on the music, it appears to be Tortelier's singular objective to let the Bach's music speak for itself. While some may characterize it as being slightly rigid, what Tortelier really does is provide listeners with exactly what is in the score, no more, no less. Tortelier's sound is warm, powerful, and delightfully clear. Mike Brownell, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

• Listener Rating: