“These suites are the quintessence of Bach’s creative work, while Bach himself is the quintessence of all music”. These were the words of the famous cellist Pablo Kasals referring to the cycle of six suites for unaccompanied cello which slipped the pen of Johann Sebastian Bach and which were for the first time performed in full by Kasals at the beginning of 20th century. Previously the demanding suites, with their essential technical sophistications and requiring great excellence of performing, were unpopular with cellists, regarded rather as intricate exercises than concert pieces. The level of sophistication increases from the first suite to the last one. In the age of Bach, the classical cello was quite an innovation, and the composer had a keen interest in exploring the musical potential granted by cello to its performer – fluency, sound and means of expression. Each of the six suites written from 1717 to 1723 includes stylized dances of that time performed in a certain sequence: prelude at the beginning, gigue at the end. It is exciting to see the protagonist of our festival Ludwig van Beethoven has been engaged in studying and creative reinterpretation of Bach’s polyphony and fugue structure during his entire life. Thus, for example, many of Beethoven’s mature pieces end with the so-called fugato.                                                         

Young “cello princess”, a native of Russia Anastasia Kobekina is skilled in all intricate techniques of playing cello. Kobekina´s cello sound is incredibly sensual and lyrical. In 2015 Anastasia became a laureate of TONALI Music Competition in Hamburg, and since then performs on a cello of 1740 by Giovanni Guadagnini. Since 2012 Kobekina takes classes from Frans Helmerson in the Kronberg Academy.

Johann Sebastian Bach
Suites for Violoncello Solo

Suite No.2 D minor BWV 1010
I. Prélude
II. Allemande
III. Courante
IV. Sarabande
V. Bourrée I + II
VI. Gigue

 Suite No.6 C major BWV 1012
I. Prélude
II. Allemande
III. Courante
IV. Sarabande
V. Gavotte I+II
VI. Gigue