Programme

Chinese cellist Yibai Chen, a distinctive figure of the younger generation and a laureate of prestigious international competitions, will present in Ostrava a demanding solo programme spanning three centuries of cello literature. The concert will open with Bach’s iconic First Suite in G major, a cornerstone of the cello repertoire whose pure architecture and dance-like elegance reveal Chen’s stylistic sensitivity. This will be followed by the famous Chaconne from Bach’s Partita in D minor, BWV 1004, in an arrangement for cello. Originally written for violin, this iconic work represents the pinnacle of Baroque musical architecture and, in its new instrumental perspective, opens further dimensions of colour and expressive intensity. The climax of the evening will be Kodály’s monumental Sonata Op. 8 – a work of raw emotional depth, folk echoes and masterful polyphony that ranks among the most demanding compositions ever written for solo cello. The recital promises an exceptional encounter with an artist who combines technical mastery with powerful musical expression.

Programme: „Recital for Solo Cello“

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750): Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007

Johann Sebastian Bach: Chaconne from the Partita for Solo Violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004 (arr.: Yibai Chen)

— intermission —

Zoltán Kodály (1882–1967): Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 8