Paul Tortelier plays Bach: Prelude from Suite No. 1 in G major (vaimusic.com)

[daniel3231995]

Paul Tortelier was the best interpreter and performer of the Bach Cello Suites.As I remember what he said in a masterclass,the Prelude should travel like a river,breathing in and out in a smooth uninterrupted continuous flow.And that is exactly how he plays it here and with every performance of it.He was THE best classical cellist.Rest in peace,maestro.You still seem so alive,hearing your soul sing through your recordings.

[luzenflormelomania]

En el minuto 2,22” empieza el éxtasis en estado puro. Impresionante su forma de transmitir, llega profundamente. Inmejorable.

[Axxrat]

OMG! awesome, as good as Rostropovich imo. For those who pick faults I have two words, and the second is off.

[elidavidyan]

BEAUTIFUL



[TheMsAlexis]

I know the music is awesome congrats but whats wrong with the inpin its like about to break o_o

[znile1]

@TheMsAlexis It's supposed to be bent

[luccigniolo666666]

What delight to listen the songs composed by Mr. TOTELIER, cello partner has a genie gives you so much emotion that c d is hard to contain!

[TalkingCardCreator]

His cello skills are over nine thousand

[supertren]

+ 9

[jeffho777]

i think yo yo ma is better

[munkybrain]

that last chord is a bitch.

[ekaksana]

@munkybrain Tortelier takes a more lyrical approach than Ma.

[religatio]

Beautiful, thanks for post it

[Etheryczna]

In my opinion the best performance of this piece on YouTube.

[thequeenBR]

Beautiful.

[ViolinPro88]

Is it just me or does his end pin look messed up at 50 seconds

[siddharth9200]

@ViolinPro88 it's just a different type of endpin.

[Samoriah]

He messed up right at the beginning. 

[beatleslover3108]

3 more people added to my hitlist.....

[blueberrycottonn]

eso es arte :D

[Kwert]

I don't think those are mistakes so much as they are expressive shifts, at least the one at 1:35... Sounds like an articulated shift to me.

[rambunctious9]

@Kwert that's called.. i remember.. a 'second finger shift'

You shift the first finger you were using for the previous note near to the next note and play the next note with your second finger. Pretty self explanatory??

[Kwert]

@rambunctious9 I've always just referred to them (and had them referred to as) articulated shifts.

[GennieTheGummieBear]

3 Dislikes? How could anyone dislike this?

Those three people have never heard real music.

[sdldrg]

@GennieTheGummieBear heard that nigga.

[sdldrg]

@GennieTheGummieBear heard that nigga.

[u2bvideo]

BRAVO! 

[Smileater]

After watching his masterclass I can honestly say that the little mistake at 1:35 can be understood and forgiven. It's one of my favourite pieces. Tortelier is awesome.

[YamhaEx440]

Never seen an end pin like that before.

[MrConstantLam]

in my spare time i listen trance, house, rap and dubstep... but every once and again i visit my grandpa and we just listen classical music for hours... and altho im normally a trancer this is one of the best peices of music ive ever heard.

[cellphonelover328]

I think i broke the replay button

[69Carterhasalildick]

this is my first year playing cello and i'm already on my own trying this i'm like on the 8 line of it.

[pocky89]

i just love to close my eyes and listen to this song play.....he did it beautifuly

[acidpixie199]

i'm a young cellist and i've been doing it for 2 years now and i love the cello and i wish someday i could be like him. probably not, but i can only dream :)

[LeoMasterson666]

favorite classical song



[chakani0001]

For a couple of minutes, we get a glimpse of heaven.

[exzou]

A. I love the way he looks.

B.Why do there chairs always suck so much?

[TheGiovannicello]

supeeeeeeeeer !!

[babygirl35721]

i love this its so relaxing

[CDMOOVEE]

I know nothing about reading or playing music, but I know beautiful music when I hear it. *This* is beautiful. Tortelier played the ending with such passion! I saw a comment about "a few mistakes." I am glad I do not know so much about music that I listen for "mistakes."

[jacobygreenwood]

@CDMOOVEE :D !!!

[Colethecelloplayer]

@CDMOOVEE Even if he may have made a mistake (please don't thumb me down people) he was my favorite cellist, and still is. The way that he performs is like no other; There is no way to describe it. His knowledge was so amazing.

[MrChristianrichard]

@TheSideflip your point is my strings teacher says not to put it out that far

[MrChristianrichard]

and your point is my strings teacher says do not put it out that far

[benningtonc7]

@MrChristianrichard Unless your strings teacher can play better than this man, you have no point. Shut up.

[danalinnell]

@TheSideflip He made a few mistakes, but the musicality makes up for it

[MrChristianrichard]

his end pen out to far

[danalinnell]

@MrChristianrichard I think he had to have it that way since the podium was too small; otherwise, he and or his cello would be falling off the edge.

[BetaFisheta]

@MrChristianrichard Not really. "However, the more horizontal position of the fingerboard and strings makes some things easier -- especially for the left hand. Gravity is our nemesis when shifting away from the bridge: the flatter position removes some of the pull of gravity from the left hand technique."

[ArabQuinn]

I love the angle where the camera is.

[AuSt1n24GaM3r]

*Sniff*Sniff* That's So Beautiful

[CharlesHenriEdouard]

Que c'est beau. La musique est une chose tellement belle et libératrice

[Lenouillle]

C'est magnifique.

[jmr1410]

it's one of the best performances i've ever heard of this piece.

[kisstar10]

This is Amazing and so beautiful.

[Apalexpe]

One of the greatest minds, a master who truly understood Bach, the period, the music. Su interpretacion esta por encima de cualquiera. également un professeur de violoncelle idéal , j'aime Tortelier!!!!! The great french school.

[missbecks89]

The cello is such a peaceful instrument to listen to, so smooth and.. hollow? I love listening to it

[1xxxCrazyDudexxx1]

beautiful but is it me or did he mess up at 0:19 but still great

[CellistAdam]

@1xxxCrazyDudexxx1 - yea, it sounded like an extra D thrown in at 0:19 maybe another time around 1:36 . He caught himself very well. overall really great! better than i can play it by far

[1xxxCrazyDudexxx1]

nice



[FSCPanda]

I wish the camera had better sound quality, but its still an amazing song

[Mariarel8]

Terrific!

[gypsytea1961]

This is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard

[shunnehling]

Bach. I love you. Paul Tortelier. I love you. 

[newFranzFerencLiszt]

@shunnehling quel passion

[luzenflormelomania]

Dos minutos y 40 segundos para disfrutar y volar. Amo a este músico!. Gracias.

[goldie0800]

Beautiful playing and a marvellous instrument, a great combination!

[MusicForTheSoul221]

His music is bold and flows . . .

It is perfect.

[fistymcnugget]

this relaxes me :)

[axelbrz]

0:18 out of tune????? :S

[fa985]

@axelbrz

it seems you're right.

[Purebunny29]

aaaah this is SO GOOD!

[plucktop]

One of the best interpretation ever!

[lovetoplaythecello]

A kind man. A great life. A wonderful career. You can't ask for more in life than that.

[39viper39]

Very nicely done. A good interpretation and nice solid sound.

[ssstar4ever]

awesome!

[bretona]

beautiful tone

[FoxyTowns]

Great Scott!

[Hunksha]

Poor guy is all squished on that tiny little platform. endpin is bent.

[porpoisefathom]

lol--he is a master...taught by casals.

the endpin was torteliers invention. he did it because the cello lays flatter for his body and produces a smoother sound as the bow rests more comfortably that way on the strings. as opposed to yo yo who plays vertically--two great players two different schools of playing..

[D0g63rt]

The endpin existed before he was born.

[porpoisefathom]

@D0g63rt not an angled endpin...it was his invention

[Mulehunter666]

One of if not the last of his recordings, he died december the same year

[mrcelloyescello]

WOW this guy plays really well but he plays a little bit differently than other cellists. Awesome work though

[Apalexpe]

@mrcelloyescello that makes him great, his interpretation just works wow

[wenzhiquan]

he plays it a lot different from everyone else O__o

[TheLudann]

it was perfect..

[Jonas96forev]

@TheLudann Dont; you think this is the best piece of music ever?

[raymondgrc]

dumblond4 & rawritssami its called a tortelier enpin he designed it i dont think it was because of his height

[Apalexpe]

It is supposed to be for taller people and to angle the cello higher for better access, my sister uses it. Works very well.

[YHKKS909]

I also love the aggression towards the end and as it slows down!

[dissidencello]

Tout le DVD est très émouvant et intéressant, et d'autant plus précieux si on n'avait pas eu la chance de le voir de son vivant !

[rawritssami]

lol it makes it more realistic when you hear a master make a mistake O.o

[YHKKS909]

Very true... an extremely beautiful piece. If only I could play it as good as this lol

[rawritssami]

why can't you? it's really not that hard, i started it in my 2nd or 3rd year. it's just the way you have to play it that may make it hard.

[YHKKS909]

Yea but im not as good on cello. Bass, guitar, and piano, but not as much cello lol but i love cello. One of my favorite instruments.

[rawritssami]

aww.

well it's an easy song to try on other instruments, i can play the beginning on violin, viola, piano and i don't play anything but cello. xD try that :D

and everyone loves cello there's just something about it

[sturdle]

wonderfull

[catracha0212]

really beautiful, a really lovely piece.

[Ce1347]

he messed up around 19 seconds in

[DiobloHunter]

Beautiful.

[dumblond4]

I love this interpretation! And this is certainly one of the classic pieces for cello--he plays it very well, give or take a few little mistakes. Look at his endpin. Cool, huh? He must be pretty tall because it's made to slant vertically rather than the typical straight kind. Does he slow down on that scale thing at the end? It seems like it.

[rawritssami]

@dumblond4 his endpin looks longer than usual too. it might be out too far XD

or if it's custom made >.>

custom made end pins cost thousands of dollars i heard:/

[Pugophile]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ................

[FelipeValen]

The tortelier interpretation of Bach suites are the most natural and human you could find.

He makes some sort of "phantasmagoric" sound which gives me goosebumps.

I know he makes mistakes, but that unique tortelier interpretation of the suites still there, I believe he was 76 when this recording was made.

sorry for my bad english

[peteacher52]

@FelipeValen Very good comment about Tortelier. His photographs portray the humanity and exuberance that comes out in his playing. At the time of this recording, which will become a historical document for cellists, he was in pain and had but a few months to live,

Don't apologise for your English - it is fine!

[trueVINCE666]

Cool =]

[zatarregaza]

I will admit respect for the guitar in classical circles is tough to come by. It does have its place though. This piece being written for cello is simply scrumptious when played well. Now Bach's lute pieces played on guitar when played well come across just as nicely IMHO. I can't say the same for the his lute pieces on other classical instruments. Someone please prove me wrong - I'd be interested to hear them.

[thejugglenaut91]

btw im a guitarist. Agree totally.

[pviola314]

not all pieces are meant to be transposed.

[zatarregaza]

Such a lovely piece! I'm learning this on guitar but have resigned to the fact that I'll never play it as nicely as it is played here

[thejugglenaut91]

the trick is to work on it until it is like the cello. but seriously being a guitarist is extremely humbling because when you put your instrument up against the piano or the cello it's just spat on basically.

[rjlchristie]

@thejugglenaut91 Try it in A major on the guitar, it won't need any added notes. The usual transposition to D major just makes the work sound prissy. A has far more balls.

[musiccritic10]

one of the most famous pieces for cello...

i would say it's not TOO difficult for a cellist, yet it's so famous, so many different interpretations, so many different styles, so many different famous cellists playing it, like yo yo ma,  and in fact, every famous cellist has played this before... and it's one of the greatest pieces for cello, i would say.

[ibasa94]

quelles sensations en moi, ça me fait le meme effet que Toumani Diabate a la kora

[Dogaradodia]

Certified Intergalactic!

[celloeos400d]

Tortelier tu es en passe de devenir mon violoncelliste préféré !

[C0urante]

As it says in the description, he was in failing health. View this more as a last goodbye to the Suites than a glorious proclamation of their beauty.

[91cellomank]

what kind of end pin is that, its slanted, does it go in the cello, or does it just connect?

[Cayo255]

its a tortelier endpin and you just connect it to the cello,

note: its called tortelier endpin because he created it

[celt4r]

As far as I know, it's called a Tortelier endpin, though I'm sure there's a few other names floating around.

[BeammeupSpotty]

I wish I didn't hear his fingers hitting the finger board?

[gracek703]

So beautiful.

I love this version.

A Great interpretation.

[Elcomunisto]

*****

[questionful]

He can do much better than that

[tbloomlover18]

i am so very sorry but i DID NOT LIKE THIS!!! for my opinion...i think as though the notes for rushed, thus making it impossible to truly enjoy each note and excuse me but did i hear a mistake a 00:18 into 00:21? im sorry....and yes i understand that he is older but is is not bvy far my favorite...i feel as though yo yo ma did it better..and without a doubt jacqueline Du Pre

[Apocalypticafan1992]

this is the "right way" to play this song because i think tortelier did "reaserch" on how to play borroque pieces and well this is product of it. i did like it i also like rostros each one has its style. BACH RULES

[Cayo255]

yea he made a mistake at 00:18 on the g,

well this is not one of his best interpretations but i really like his bach, i feel it so smooth and relaxed,(not this time)

and i dont agree with you that ma plays it better, i dont like how yo yo ma plays bach but well thats just my opinion.

i wanna say that my favorites on bach suites are mischa maisky and jian wang pretty different betwen them but the both are awesome

[k73f]

Listen to Steven Isserlis interpretations. They are really really good. One of the best interpretations ive heard.

[gggggggod]

yeah isserlis and this baroque guy called Roel Dieltiens. plays 6th on a 5 string cello with really incredibly beautiful ornamentation- its masterly.

[k73f]

oh nice, i have also have a recording from alexander rudin that plays the 6th suite on a 5th string cello, but his interpreation isnt the best.

[jacobygreenwood]

omg my hears had an orgasm hearing this... I love paul my fav cellist by far

[streitlucas]

Yes it's beautiful, but I prefer the version of Rostro.

But he plays that and the end of his life, so he couldn't play that the best way. But I love him !

[uweetnix]

STUPENDOUS !

[lily171]

I got goosebumps!! So incredible!

[oshidonimlop]

I love how he changes the color of the c string each time it is played. This is a very good performance that is consistent with all of his ideas.

[redhotchiliangel]

i thikn that the end is awful

[oshidonimlop]

The ending is very well executed because it focuses on the tonic, which is Bach's intention. The attack on the last note was sharp, but he fixed it immediately. This is a whole lot better than any ending that focuses on the last two-note chord because those interperetations only make the ending sound like an inversion and not and end.

[Badxela]

He play's very well but the sound is awful

[Apalexpe]

Tortelier was not only a great violoncellist, he was also an innovator, composer, teacher and philosopher. His understanding of music went beyond most, for this reason he is respected around the world. Intead of saying pointless commentaries try and learn something from a great artist of the violoncelle, the truth is that almost nobody would ever reach the highest levels of artistry that Tortelier easily managed.

[Badxela]

don't get me wrong ! I love the way he plays and teaches, i was just criticizing the sound of the recording !

[OutlawKyle]

I love Tortelier's interpretation of the Bach Prelude from Cello Suite #1! He really understood how this music is supposed to flow. If you watch his masterclasses you will also see that he was a phenomenal teacher.

[lordzik93]

@OutlawKyle

And I love Tortelier's interpretation of the Bach Prelude from Cello Suite #4. Other are too fast.

[ArabQuinn]

@OutlawKyle wait? he is dea? he can't teach me?

[EnriliRT]

Borec! To jsem kdysi taky hrála:]