Sifei Wen, cello, J. S. Bach, Suite No. 4, I. Prelude

[nphaydu]

I am sorry that the human inclination on youtube seems so often to be to critique when we could and should be thankful for the beauty that is created. In your playing there is much beauty, indeed!

[LOTViolists]

WOW!!!!!! I'll be watching this recording as I start learning this piece.

[shinuku77]

Again this is amazing but its not really played in a baroque way. Either way I love the emotion in it. Truly is amazing

[eschelar]

Is that a wolf note in there that she's fighting?

[skyd171]

I'm just another commenter here, among the many, who thinks that this is definitely among the best recordings of this piece, if not, the best.

I also recommend the Kontrabass Prelude to suite 4. Very different feel from the cello, and incredible to hear. It's preview is a black and white static image, I forget the performer.

[Neinir]

I looove the vibrato ^o^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mendradon]

I love her :)

[cello7294]

my favorite version!

[Davemax15]

I have been listening to this piece for years and this is one of the best performances I have heard... the tempo is just right for my taste, fast enough to maintain energy but with enough time to let the reverberation tickle my mind grapes. I just briefly read something about someone complaining about the amount of vibrato, whoever said that is just not cool.... lol good work Ms. Wen

[1219GreenGirl]

Good job, but sometimes you look a little stiff. (Just my opinion.)

[cellispielen]

Too fast? I would say not one bit too fast... I would suggest playing with the tempo more--such as letting it go more in the cadenza like 16th note passages.

A side note: No matter what you do with Bach or how well you do it, SOMEbody will always object. People have such strong opinions about Bach! I think with Bach, you just have to express yourself in the best way possible and FORGET what anybody else says about it. (Although weighing positive feedback is certainly a good idea too.)

[catnip4life55]

your a little bit fast but your dynamics are outstanding and your notation is perfect

[XeroK00L]

Subbed!! More Bach please!! :D

[willisingo]

the doube stops are a little bland and the descending line after the first double stop is lacking that asymmetrical feel that you hear in other recordings; a little rushed. The rubato during the recapitulation isnt very effective, sounds more like she forgot the rhythms. And no I could'nt do any better, just my observations.

[jellyxxxx]

who cares, shes magnificent!

[IstilGotGame]

willisingo, your full of shit cunt

[pbaron23]

Hy my friend your right! ( can u cheq my worst verision? :P )

[monta0076]

So good playing and concert !

[dan382414]

por estos momentos son los que la vida vale la pena no creen

[markmando333]

incredible talent and passion

[CJCole91]

This is an unaccompanied Cello piece. She is putting her own emotion into it..she really can go at any speed she wants to =]. slow...speed up...she doesn't have a piano to stay in time with.

It is beautiful by the way, i loved it! =D

I acctually have a Bass Clarinet Transcription for the six Cello Suites, but it just isn't the same on Bass Clarinet =[, you just don't get the Cello sound.

[49testsamiam49]

very nice playing

[azndude16]

swimmer1215: "awesome tone...too much vibrato and u need to keep a more steady beat throughout "

An opinion is okay. But blatant criticisms without any base is downright uncalled for. It's almost as if you can do better?

[ROFLMFAOMG]

Obviously swimmer1215 doesn't know the meaning of music. Just saying.

[Liquidgecko83]

you made me love the Cello!

[kameson]

how can I get your recorded CDs?.

[EGG1202]

Wow!!

You have very nice sound!!

So beautiful!

:)

[iluvenisan]

All the notes are resonating in my soul

[swimmer1215]

awesome tone...too much vibrato and u need to keep a more steady beat throughout

[Orchadorkcello]

It's all personal interpretation. Fluctuation of tempi isn't uncommon in many performances of the suites. Whenever most people learn the Bach cello suites, they almost always revise it in some way and put their own "spin on it", which is probably the reason why these cello suites are the most commonly played pieces played on the cello today (along with the major concertos, of course).

[Enix5548]

I personally think this piece with all right with more rubato than usual. I kind of believe people tend to have fluctuation of tempi because they fall in love with the pieces, not because it is intentional. Do you disagree? I have played the whole bach suite in many style and some very romantically, only to realize later on that only I'm feeling the emotion in the pieces, not the people hearing me. I really think Bach should be introduced very early, before romantic music, when taught.

[thechikflick]

too much vibrato? theres never too much vibrato. im guessing your not a cellist, or not a very good one if you are. stick to swimming please(:

[zeMusicluver]

Bach AND the cello, you is my new musician friend!;)

[onlymeexd]

ella toca muy bién :)

[unkown00234]

pero moooeee bieeeennnn

[jgc8888]

I really enjoyed this interpretation. It is very coherent, expressive, and not preoccupied with ideas of historical practice or consistency of bowing. I am certainly not against people trying to perform in a "Baroque manner", but I also love more personal interpretations such as this.

[tubbie0075]

That dress reminds me of Jacqueline DuPre... except hers was yellow... I think :-) Beautiful tone by the way.

[Lukland]

parfait!

[Pianoloverok]

You are great!!!!!!!!!!

[MatthewJohnIgnacio]

Five Star!

[curtnoel9]

Bravo. Exquisite artistry. Bravo.

[smilebhappy247]

oh my goodness, your cello sounds BEAUTIFUL. i want it!

[thechikflick]

it does!

[AGLMIL]

Excelente interpretacion y sonido!

[jonathantosio]

There is no doubt that she wants to be heard in the first 2 bars =)

[kriyadicto]

Muito bom!!!!

[AliciaKeys1994]

ALL your videos are great you play so beautifully and with such emotion, no mistakes, ahh perfect as always.

[Dogaradodia]

Bravissimo! Female Mischa Maisky or Jacqueline du Pre incarnate. Thank you so much for letting me hear such celestial music. Now I can appreciate Bach more. I'm only familiar with the Prelude for Cello Suite No. 1. The way you play this particular Bach music which I'm hearing now is really prelude to greatness.

[Hopfensperger]

Really great! How about suite 5?

[cellocraze]

i second that, and six

[cellodude1]

I can't get over the sound of that cello. It is so deep. I had played a cello a few years back with a very similar sound. The prelude in E flat is very odd to play on cello. The backward extensions and the odd shiftings. But you made it come out beautifully...

[musonymous]

A glorious full bodied sound. The music unfolds spaciously .Very beautiful playing!

[DaveGrossmanSoloBass]

Great performance! I hope you post more Bach!

[PinkyPrincess20]

I will soon have another recital at the University Church in USC playing the whole Bach Suite NO. 4. I will definitely get it recorded and posted here.

[d6violin]

Bravo! Very deep, with a lot of fantasy, but Clean and Stylish!!! Great "Bach" approach.