Testimonials
BACH: The Six Solo Cello Suites
Sara Lovell: Cello
It is generally conceded that Bach’s Six Suites for Solo Cello constitute one of music’s Everests. In these performances Sara Lovell, issuing her own record label, is aware of the challenge and meets it triumphantly.
What is so daunting about this music is the close alliance between technique and spiritual content. A worthy set of performances must hold these two elements in balance. What the artist must do is to use musicianship of the highest order to enable us to meet Bach face to face. Sara Lovell achieves this with gripping mastery of insight and a technique of rare polish.
Her tone is rich, but free from sentiment: her nuances subtle but discrete. Nothing is overdone. She is Bach’s messenger and quietly glories in the role. The works themselves do not invite highlight treatment – nevertheless it may be relevant to mention the Sarabande for sheer beauty of realisation. Contrast the profundity of this with the virtuosity of the Sixth Suite and you find yourself amazed at Sara Lovell’s range. Bach would, I am sure, have marvelled at this two disc set. So should we.
Geoffrey Crankshaw
Musical Opinion
I have listened with considerable pleasure to Sara Lovell’s Compact Disc of Bach Suites II, III, and V.
Her playing always illuminates Bach’s musical intentions and sounds very natural.
I especially enjoyed the very demanding No.V where her tone gained in richness from the tuning of the A string down to G. The Prelude is most impressive in the initial drama followed by the excitement of the Fugue; also, the individual character of each movement is very well stated.
I would gladly recommend her version of the Suites for the sheer musicality of the interpretation.
Bruno Schrecker
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