“Sei solo”, or “You are alone”, is the enigmatic indication given by Bach about his solo string pieces.

This programme brings the experience of solo string instruments, the cello and the viol, to dialogue with the listener’s imagination. From a time when music was rare, with no internet nor streaming platforms, a bass instrument, just alone, just by itself, tells many stories, many sonic dances and many e-motions, obliging us to listen and follow the wordless plot. One instrument, or many, since there are so many voices and layers: Bach, Telemann and Abel require the player to cross ceaseless boundaries to achieve the most refined technique and sound, untune the cello, add an extra string, sing and accompany itself, become a sitting dancer...

Georg Philipp Telemann, Viola da Gamba fantasia no 5, from Fantaisies pour la basse de violle, faites et dediées à Mr. Pierre Chaunell, TWV40:26-37 (7')
Scherzando
Dolce
Spirituoso

Telemann Viola da Gamba fantasia no 10 (7')
Dolce-Allegro-Dolce-Allegro
Siciliana
Scherzando

Karl Friedrich Abel, "Arpeggio" AbelWVA1:A5-33, from Drexel Ms. 5871 (US-NYp) (4')

Bach, Suite no 6 BWV1012, from 6 Suites à Violoncello Solo senza Basso
Prelude
Allemande
Courante
Sarabande
Gavottes I and II
Gigue