By AM119571
22-Mar-2013

Bach Cello Suites on Double Bass  

I stood transfixed in the Classical Department of a major record store listening to one of the most beautiful sounds I thought I had ever heard. I had no choice, and after a brief enquiry was directed to the Bach section where I chose a version of the six Cello Suites by a trusted and familiar artist, Paul Tortellier. The listening experience that followed resulted in an insatiable thirst for, particularly, any instrumental works by J.S. Bach.

Over the years I have marvelled at Bach's ability to explore the possibilities for each instrument he chose to write for, but none seems to quite reach the pinnacle he achieved with the Cello Suites. It was almost as though he found the soul of the cello and said "This is how I ought to be used". I have, at times pondered buying alternative interpretations by, say Casals, Rostropovich or even Yo Yo Ma (after enjoying hi TV series). Instead I have collected different interpretations on different instruments just to see if this how familiar music could be refreshed.

Thanks to regular ClassicsOnline newsletters! I now have versions on guitar and theorbo and have realised that it is actually the music that dictates my love of the recordings, and although each artist plays expertly and beautifully, the cello remains a favourite. Until now... I never imagined that the impact I first felt in the music store could be surpassed. I have now played DaXun Zhang's "Bassic Bach" several times, and know that it has very quickly become my all-time favourite album. I hear the music, but more than ever, I feel it. Perhaps it's the depth of sound that first attracted me to the Cello suites, and now it penetrates more than ever.

I cannot recommend Zhang's enough, and would hope that any Bach or Cello fan would give this wonderful performance at least one listen. For my part I can't wait to hear Suites 2, 3 & 6, or for that matter anything else Zhang chooses to interpret.
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