The Six Suites for Solo Cello by J.S. Bach composed around 1720, are generally regarded as the first and greatest masterpieces ever written for the instrument.

Their scope is vast and ingenious. Although most of the time, only one note is played, occasional chords and masterful melodies imply harmony and counterpoint.

The Suites have been performed and recorded countless times over the last 100 years, with a variety of interpretative approaches. These approaches, until recently, could often be rather academic and formal, as it used to be thought that baroque music was mostly about form. The present cellist takes a radically opposing approach, one which is inspirational and which infuses the works with vitality and spirit.

Marina Tarasova is a world-renowned cellist with many recordings to her name for Musical Concepts and Northern Flowers among other labels, and this is her first recording for Divine Art. She has won international competitions in Prague, Florence and Paris and has a wide repertoire covering works of composers from the 17th century to the 20th century.

Statement:
This recording was made, and contracts agreed, well before the reprehensible and criminal Russian invasion of Ukraine. Divine Art condemns the Russian dictator and his ‘parliament’ and stands united with the people of Ukraine and for recognition of sovereignty of the entire country. We also believe that many Russians oppose the war but cannot speak out for fear of recriminations. We issue this recording in support of democracy and real freedom everywhere. Though she was born and raised in Russia, Tarasova’s father. A. Dovzhenko, was Ukrainian: a significant figure in the medical world, his statue stands in Crimea.