Review: The Complete Bach Cello Suites performed by Jeffrey Lastrapes
by H. Murray, March 17, 2020.
It feels like every time I look at my phone, more terrifying and stressful news about the Corona Virus pops up in my email, newsfeed, on the television, and just about everywhere else. When you are surrounded by stressful news and constant updates about a quickly worsening global situation, it is important to find solace and comfort. A reassurance that humanity is capable of continuing on, creating, and sharing elements of beauty that bring us together. Music is one thing that unites us, but with concert halls closed, performances canceled, and tours postponed, it is hard to experience the feelings that bring people together for live music.
Cellist Jeffrey Lastrapes recently recorded and released all six of the Bach cello suites, and it could not come at a better time. This video, beautifully filmed, and played gives you the illusion that you have a front-row seat to the only recital that didn't get canceled. Is he playing for me in my living room? Well, yes, actually, in a way he is. The video is over two hours long and filled with many camera angles that beautifully capture the physicality of playing the cello suites. The video enhances the experience of listening to the music, just as going to a recital brings you closer to the music and the performer's interpretation.
This recording catches everything from the taps of his left hand on the strings to the articulation of each bow stroke to his inhalations and exhalations (I'm a big fan of hearing a recording artist be a human). Lastrapes's tone is gorgeous, lush, resonant, and yet intimate and personal. I was mesmerized by his phrasing and voicing across the strings. How successfully he pulls multiple voices out of a movement while maintaining the sprightliness of a dance character or how sometimes the cello sobs and laments with elegance and finesse. Each listening convinces me, I have a new favorite movement. Today, as I finish this review, I am emotionally committed to the Sarabande from Suite No. 3 in C major BWV 1009 but, this morning, I woke up feeling as if the world was dancing to the beat of the C minor Suite BWV 1011. A few days ago, I was confident that I loved Lastrapes’s performance of Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007, the most. Tomorrow I'll probably be listening to another suite on repeat. This flip-flopping speaks volumes about both the performer and the composer's ability to cajole the listener into following them on a journey.
There is nothing flashy or extroverted about this performance. It feels deeply personal and incredibly intimate. How often can you claim to have an experience like this from the comfort of your home where you can get up and make as many cups of tea (or cold-weather cocktails) as your heart desires?
With the extra time on your hands, I highly recommend you spend a few hours of your day, week, month, social distancing experience with this recording. You won’t regret it; it can only add warmth and humanity to this existence, which feels like it grows more lonely and isolating with every passing day. Listen (and watch) this for your mental health, your love of music, the glory of J.S.Bach’s music, the beauty of Lastrapes's playing, and because, if you're a musician, it might inspire you to play something beautiful…or practice.
You can watch each Suite individually on Jeffrey’s website, or enjoy them all together, as seen above.
Bio:
Jeffrey Noel Lastrapes is an active soloist, chamber musician, and teacher having performed and taught in Europe, Asia, South America, and in every region of the US. As a soloist, he has appeared with the Monroe Symphony Orchestra, the Baton Rouge Symphony, the Midland-Odessa Symphony, the Ibex Chamber Orchestra of New York, the Lower Marion Symphony of Philadelphia, the Festival Orchestra in Vina del Mar, Chile, the National Philharmonic of Honduras, and numerous others. He has also participated in major summer festivals around the world including the Evian Festival in France, Hot Springs Music Festival, Peninsula Music Festival, Bay View, the Bellingham Festival, and the Gregor Piatigorsky Seminar at the University of Southern California.
Mr. Lastrapes holds degrees from The Curtis Institute of Music and the Juilliard School where he studied with Orlando Cole and Harvey Shapiro respectively. He has recorded for New World Records and Centaur Records.