Bach wrote six suites for unaccompanied cello and these remain the pinnacle of all solo cello repertoire today. South African cellist, Peter Martens, received rave reviews in amongst others, The Strad magazine for his 2011 SAMA nominated CD set of these works. Martens, currently principal cellist of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, also enjoys an international career as soloist and chamber musician. He says, “These works have occupied me since the age of eight, when I learned the prelude of the first Bach Suite. They are sublime and profound works, and it is a privilege to have lived with them through performance for the last 40 years.” Each suite is a set of dance inspired movements in the form of a Baroque Dance Suite. The first is optimistic, elegant and simple. A musical journey through the suites takes one through increasingly complex and deeply emotive music, until the sixth suite which epitomises a grand cathedral in the music of J.S. Bach. Martens will present one suite each morning as part of the Virtual National Arts Festival.
Composer – J.S. Bach (1685 – 1750)
Artist – Peter Martens (cello)
Producer – Dirkie van der Merwe
Video Engineer – Pierre-Arnold Theron
Sound Engineer – Gerhard Roux
Filmed on location: La Motte – Historic Wine Cellar