Emmanuelle Bertrand – Bach: Complete Cello Suites (2019) [FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

To record Bach’s Six Suites was Emmanuelle Bertrand’s most cherished dream; it has now become reality thanks to her encounter with an exceptional instrument. Built by Carlo Tononi in Venice in 1730, this cello with its deep and generous sound, set up in ‘Baroque’ style (with gut strings and bow to match), has proved to be the most faithful of partners for tackling one of the most impressive monuments in all western music.

The cello has always been favoured by French musicians, ever since its invention in the 1660s in Italy, where it gradually supplanted the viola da gamba. Two Parisians, the Duport brothers, wrote the first sonatas for the new instrument and published an Essai sur le doigté (Essay on Fingering) which laid the foundations of cello technique. It is still a touchstone work today. And so, the “French cello school” conquered the world, with, in the 20th Century, figures like Maurice Maréchal, Pierre Fournier, André Navarra, Paul Tortelier and Maurice Gendron: and today it is doing if possible even better, as many new talents hatch. An heir to this long line and herself a radiant and warm character, Emmanuelle Bertrand is passionate about all music: she worked on Tout un monde lointain with the composer (Dutilleux), and is inspiring and creating new works. For this recording, she has chosen a baroque cello, with gut strings, and a 415 Hz tuning. Here it is the instrument that sets the agenda, not the performer. She has discovered a new freedom in this approach to the pages that she has played, like all cellists, since her childhood. Matured over long years, her performance of Six Solo Cello Suites crystallises perfectly around this fine Venetian instrument of the early 18th Century. – François Hudry

Tracklist:

Disc 1 (57:09)
1. Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prelude (02:28)
2. Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: II. Allemande (04:18)
3. Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: III. Courante (02:35)
4. Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: IV. Sarabande (03:04)
5. Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: V. Menuets 1 & 2 (02:59)
6. Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: VI. Gigue (01:46)
7. Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008: I. Prélude (03:27)
8. Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008: II. Allemande (03:14)
9. Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008: III. Courante (01:53)
10. Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008: IV. Sarabande (05:02)
11. Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008: V. Menuets 1 & 2 (02:58)
12. Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008: VI. Gigue (02:28)
13. Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009: I. Prelude (03:29)
14. Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009: II. Allemande (03:45)
15. Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009: III. Courante (03:06)
16. Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009: IV. Sarabande (04:05)
17. Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009: V. Bourrées 1 & 2 (03:19)
18. Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009: VI. Gigue (03:13)

Disc 2 (01:17:00)
1. Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010: I. Prelude (04:14)
2. Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010: II. Allemande (03:49)
3. Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010: III. Courante (03:26)
4. Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010: IV. Sarabande (04:03)
5. Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010: V. Bourrées 1 & 2 (05:01)
6. Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010: VI. Gigue (02:43)
7. Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011: I. Prelude (05:30)
8. Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011: II. Allemande (05:14)
9. Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011: III. Courante (02:03)
10. Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011: IV. Sarabande (03:53)
11. Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011: V. Gavottes 1 & 2 (04:46)
12. Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011: VI. Gigue (02:26)
13. Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012: I. Prélude (04:24)
14. Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012: II. Allemande (07:31)
15. Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012: III. Courante (03:39)
16. Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012: IV. Sarabande (05:40)
17. Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012: V. Gavottes 1 & 2 (04:16)
18. Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012: VI. Gigue (04:22)