Pablo Casals Cello Bach

At a tender age, renowned cellist Pablo Casals was introduced to Bach’s legendary Cello Suites. The musician studied the pieces for several years before performing it publically. An extraordinary exploration, the remastered album highlights Casals’ spontaneity, detailed execution and meaningful appreciation. A definitive set to these historic works.

The Catalan cellist Pablo Casals (1876-1973) was first to bring to wider notice the works that open this set, J.S. Bach’s solo cello suites. Thereafter we hear his celebrated partnership with Horszowski in Beethoven and the groundbreaking piano trio formed with Thibaud and Cortot in Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann and Mendelssohn. From the symphonic repertoire come the concertos by Dvořák (with George Szell) and Elgar (Adrian Boult). Finally, an enchanting disc of encores and – with Casals’s own street-band or cobla – seven examples of the sardana, the national dance of the great artist’s beloved homeland.

The late chamber recordings made by the great Catalan cellist with longstanding friends and colleagues, including two versions of Beethoven's 'Ghost' Trio, the 1956 'Hommage à Pablo Casals' LP, and the Schubert String Quintet with the Végh Quartet. Includes CD premieres. In September 1958, the 81-year-old Pablo Casals took part in the (now annual) Beethovenfest held in the composer's home city of Bonn. His music-making had lost none of its carefree spirit, and Philips quickly issued these live recordings of Beethoven sonatas and piano trios made in the intimate space of the music room of the Beethoven House. They preserve the cellist on liberated and exhilarating form in a transcription of the Horn Sonata and the Second and Fifth Cello Sonatas, accompanied by the Polish pianist who had been a chamber-music partner since the 1930s, MieczysLaw Horszowski.

One of the great triple threats in classical music, Casals was a noted composer, distinguished conductor and world-renowned cellist. This beautiful set comprises Casals' complete recordings for EMI Classics, including his internationally celebrated recordings of Bach's Cello Suites . They stand alongside sonatas by Beethoven and Brahms; concertos by Dvorak and Elgar; trios by Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Haydn and Beethoven, and pieces composed by the treasured cello virtuoso (and tenacious campaigner for peace) himself.