J.S. BACH: Suites for Solo Cello, Nos. 1-3 – Martin Zeller, cello – MA Recordings 073, 59:37 ***** [Distr. by Allegro]:
Martin Zeller is currently principal cello of the Basel Chamber Orchestra, as well as professor of baroque cello at the Musikhochschule Zurich. His warmly resonant and richly vibrant 1673 Jacobus Stainer cello captured by some fine one-point-recorded sound (at 88.2 kHz) make this one of the most approachable and easy-on-the-ears single instrument recordings I have heard.
Zeller is not a dogmatist; indeed, one can only marvel at the full circle period performance practices seem to have come. If this was recorded 15 years ago it would be a straightforward, no-nonsense, sans vibrato, one-tempo, dull-as-nails reading that we arrogantly projected on our ancestors 300 years ago – to their discredit. They seemed dim-witted and musically and emotionally neutered. These are different; indeed, before I even read the notes or knew what kind of a player Mr. Zeller was I was already making assumptions as to how romantic these interpretations are. He plays them as he feels them.
One may make a few assumptions in this regard, as there are no musical markings in the score, and in fact we don’t know for certain that these were even written for the cello. As in many of Bach’s greatest works, the music often comes to us vehicle-neutral. Bach may indeed have written the solo violin suites for him to play, but we have no such indications about the Cello Suites. However, from a practical performance standpoint in today’s world, the cello seems the best bet, though there are some fine viola recordings also (Patricia McCarty), as well as guitar (Sharon Isbin, but the sound could be better). There is a wonderful double-bass album on Sony with Edgar Meyer also that will astound you. [And don’t forget the versions on solo piano, saxophone, marimba and even harmonica!…Ed.] But the cello version remains the primo product, my own favorites being Janos Starker (his third recording on Mercury in SA), Rostropovich/EMI, and Peter Bruns on Opus111.
This new recording now joins that august stable, and with the highest recommendation. I look forward to the second volume with considerable anticipation.
— Steven Ritter
