Salon Sanctuary Concerts presented renowned lutenist Hopkinson Smith performing Johann Sebastian Bach's first three cello suites on the German theorbo last night.
Seeking his best option for the tricky task of effectively putting across these richly emotional works on a plucked instrument, Smith has chosen to transcribe them for the German theorbo, a type of bass lute with a compatible-enough tuning and a deep enough range for these works, BWV 1007-1009, which are among the best-known cello music in the baroque/classical repertoire.
With sensitive readings and impeccable technique, Smith proved, as if it needed proving, that Bach's works can sing out in all their awesome complexity and deep humanity even when transcribed for an instrument with a different, even in some ways almost opposite, character from that on which they're usually performed.
The theorbo is almost always used to accompany voices or other instruments. Smith told us he was not aware of any solo repertoire for the German theorbo. Nonetheless there were many moments during his concert when one could just close one's eyes and let the music sweep one away.
© 2024 Classicalite.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
