Bach: Cello Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012 | Beiliang Zhu, 5-string Baroque cello

00:22 Introduction by Beiliang Zhu
04:29 Cello Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: I-Prelude
09:43 II-Allemande
15:30 III-Courante
17:56 IV-Sarabande
21:31 V-Gavotte I & II
24:40 Gigue
Heifetz alum and Artist in Residence Beiliang Zhu, the first to win the Leipzing International Bach Competition on a baroque instrument, offers a breathtaking performance on her 5-string baroque cello of Bach's Suite No. 6 in D major for solo cello, BWV 1012. Recorded in concert at Francis Auditorium during the 2016 Heifetz Institute Festival of Concerts in Staunton, Virginia.
Find out more about the Heifetz Institute and its "Festival of Concerts" at www.heifetzinstitute.org.
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[@kismetcapitan]

baroque cellos may not have the thunder and projection of modern cellos with tungsten strings, but there's a delicate warmth to the tone that is not necessarily "historical", but simply beautiful in its own right. the interpretation and performance is absolutely stellar; I was very moved by it!

[@craigcowing1107]

Totally agree. The tone of this instrument is rich and delightful.

[@axxmaniaxx]

i was very moved as well....... it gave me a bowel movement.

[@jimmybobbyjoe]

@@axxmaniaxx I am nowhere near the psychological awakening point of capability to understand this comment

[@johannsebastianbach3411]

Thanks to people like Beiliang Zhu, we can believe in a better future

[@pascalpoussin1209]

Johann, did you listen to Lang Lang's recording of your Goldberg variations?

[@derekflanderschang9654]

Hey he’s Bach everyone!!

[@javierdiazsantana]

God bless you, Mr. bach. We cellists are forever thankful with you, particularly for this suite.

[@randomoneforstuff3696]

@@pascalpoussin1209 Sacrilegious.

[@clancywiggam]

@@javierdiazsantana Us bassists are pretty thankful too!

[@eliharris212]

Your interpretation of the Sarabande was phenomenal

[@mimicuatro971]

I would like to put a thousand likes to this wonderfull cellist.

[@davidrakes3618]

Wow!!! The closer you get to the composer's original intentions, the better the performance is. And when the performer is as gifted as this one is, the final result knocks it out of the ballpark!!!

[@bobbarsky60]

She is a rare interpretative genius. As with Klemperers classic Beethoven cycle from the 1950s, while listening to this one cannot imagine the music could go any other way. So convincing, so full of integrity. So magical. There are several other excellent baroque cello recordings of this work on KZbin, but this one has that extra 5 percent that makes the difference between excellence and greatness. I believe this is the greatest baroque cello playing I have everheard

[@donisjordan249]

Just listen to Peter Wispelway on his baroque cello

[@tbarrelier]

This is the most beautiful sounding cello I've ever heard! Ms. Zhu does it justice.

[@bennydafarmer865]

Suite 6 ... What a choice!!! And your performance was flawless. I sat there listening and watching speechlessly until the very end.

[@PTCello]

Gone Fishing lucky you to have been there! Nothing equates to BEING THERE.

[@irinagetman777]

Allemande is what won me over. It was kind of spiritual ritual. She is a genius. Truly is. I am crying.

[@grammatikerfanatiker]

At first I only listened to her playing, but then I went back to listen to her speech, and I am truly impressed. Her pure musical talent and ability to understand audiences and her true authenticity, not only in music, but also genuine human emotions and that beautiful speech are really touching. Her cello sings like a real human voice; listening to her play you almost don't even hear a cello, but you hear her own true feelings and emotions, almost as if she's having a conversation with the audience. Her strings must be made by an amazing maker because they sing like no other, just like her cello. She is truly a great performer with a great personality and sense of musicality. What a treat to hear her play.

[@bobbarsky60]

She uses her cello, guided by a brilliant and subtle musical mind, to speak directly to the heart. Words are superfluous.

[@michaels7889]

Very special to have this sensitive performance accessible to all, so beautifully and intelligently played on a superb instrument.

[@bigchurp]

The allemande is gorgeous. She did a fantastic job. I wish I possessed 1/10 of her talent. Beautiful

[@rineric3214]

The five-string is the right choice! It's perfect for this music. Great intro, too!! Great performance, of course.

[@s0ap.4]

It rings so differently... incredible.

[@DARRELLZINGALE]

I cried so hard. It’s so beautiful

[@bigchurp]

Holy shit I want this instrument!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Luckily ebay has 5 string cellos and all types of music can be easily played on it. Bachs Violin concertos sound good on it.

[@nickyork8901]

Lovely how she takes time at the top of the instrument rather than rushing through, makes perfect sense.

[@RosarioDiPeri]

What a beautiful human being.

[@andrewmargrave7518]

This piece cannot be played except on a five-stringed cello tuned as it is here (C2-G2-D3-A3-E4). Attempts to play it on a cello with only four strings, lacking the top E string, simply do not come off. The resulting sound is thick, coarse, and strenuous. A five-stringer of this sort would be a good choice for playing the Valentini Sonata and the Schubert "Arpeggione" Sonata. Needless to say, but I will say it anyway, the cellist plays this beautifully. The outcurved bow, held as it is here, contributes greatly to an appropriate sorority

[@StopFear]

I really strongly respect her for not doing crazy emotions faces during performance like some musicians do. She looks like she keeps herself in control. Feels much more respectful to the audience.

[@erik7654]

I've been playing and studying these suites for the past 25 years and this is one of the best performances of the sixth suite I've heard. Exceptional and authentic.

[@katekoller3572]

I think this is my favorite recording of this suite that I have heard yet! Thank you!

[@antonioarregui9012]

It is such a beautiful interpretation. My whole family was astonished while listening. Congratulations

[@aristopleb]

Love this, the prelude is so folkish and metal and sweet

[@beiliangzhu]

:D love the combination of these adjectives. Thanks.

[@johannsebastianbach1649]

Lian R it’s sounds so much more classical on the 4string cello

[@jeremiahstone5285]

I would've said metal AF! Y'all know contemporary metal has it's roots in classical music, ya?

[@jonathanvalk726]

@@johannsebastianbach1649 yes: classical! But you J.S. Bach was not born in the classical era, but in the baroque era ;)

[@frenchimp]

@@jonathanvalk726 Actually the very instant of his death was the official beginning of the classical era. I wonder if Handel realised at that moment that all of a sudden he had been teleported into a wholly different musical era...

[@MichaelRupprecht]

Großartig! Auch ganz wunderbar die Verzierungen in den Wiederholungen der Sarabande!

[@itamarbar9580]

I have never heard or played this piece, but I have played other Bach cello suites. From the prelude alone I can understand that this is the hardest of the suites. We're in the endgame now.

[@zamfully]

Such a phenomenal talent such eloquence not just in speech but in her playing. Here is a musician who truly understands who she is playing, what she is playing. Such a pleasure to meet you and to hear you. Bravo.

[@nicolassetnarsky8555]

That's superb! I've listened to this piece a lot of times, played by a cornucopia of cellists, famous and not so, but none of them could express it the way you can in this 5-stringed cello. This is certainly the best performance I've listened to

[@breckon2684]

That fingerboard is absolutely beautiful.

[@violinpraxis]

Speechlessly good Jesus christ... This is simply the best My 2021 is now blessed. Thank you LOVED IT SO MUCH!!!

[@HelenaWilliams8696]

Delightful performance! Its tone is like an echo in the abyss and yet SUBLIME!

[@banjofett3949]

You can hear how she approaches the E string with much respect, it is lovely. Thank you

[@egonbuchner5967]

wonderful trills in the Allemande. so fast and yet so clear... beautiful

[@eskiledmar6240]

What a wonderful musician!!!

[@t3hgr8gabbo]

The finger and bow noise add such an exciting percussive element that's lost in modern cello playing.

[@HelenaWilliams8696]

Cellist Beiliang Zhu performs Bach's Cello Suite No. 6 with exquisite skill, grandeur, depth, meaning, beauty, truth and much more... The playing, registrations, instrument, acoustic and camera is fabulous! Delightful performance! Always the mystery of the cello's tone is like an echo in the abyss and yet SUBLIME!

[@zevyzions]

Wow. A super performance along with impeccable intonation!!

[@ruohaochen]

The sound of Beiliang's Baroque Cello pieces sound very classic and it reminds me of the time when Bach was composing music to capture his understanding of beauty and life of the medieval ages.

[@dansingmuch]

I've been listening to performances of Bach's Cello Suite #6 in D major by a number of different fine cellists, all wonderful performances. This one by Beiliang Zhu is their equal, very individual and unique.

[@fredlifsitz7411]

This is absolutely superb playing. One of of the most enjoyable performances of this work I’ve ever experienced. Encompassing all of the wonder of our Universe in 26 minutes.

[@craigcowing1107]

A wonderful performance and I love the tone of the cello.

[@iaindall1896]

Unbelievey fantastic

[@Ignacio7443]

Hermosa interpretación! Gracias!

[@redbrian3655]

truly inspirational speech and performing

[@gigamax1978]

Very inspiring speech and very very beatiful sound!

[@antonycooke6402]

Truly remarkable playing and musicality.

[@Manu3337333]

Magnifique. I enjoy everything your talk and the music. so deep! Merci!

[@zekehoang851]

In my opinion the baroque cello (or violoncello piccolo) sounds much nicer than the common orchestral cello. Beautiful!

[@Violedegambe]

Zeke Hoang well, it has gutstrings which give him a nice and warm sound. And the E string has a also a very beautiful and specific tone

[@davidrakes3618]

AMEN!!!

[@lionelmartin1]

Absolutely wonderful! Thank you!

[@RiverbluffMusic]

The music makes such sense, and lays so well, on the 5-string. Brava! Beautifully done, and thank you -

[@PTCello]

I am so in love…

[@aleksandrarenska]

Beautiful playing!

[@jondesouza1296]

Thank you Wonderful playing

[@leonpetersen7346]

Beautiful....!!!

[@ghmus7]

Totally superb. It just is so right to hear this suite o Bach's instrument.

[@AlamoCityCello]

Amazing music making, BRAVA!

[@Wooviolin]

I thought my eyes deceived me - 5 strings?!?! WOW 🤩

[@jlvjazz]

The 6th suite was written for a 5-string instrument.

[@ElizaBradshaw]

Simply incredible

[@robg8718]

I love your philosophy Ms Beiliang, a fellow kindred spirit. And of course, you are a marvelous musician on the cello...bravo!!!

[@armenmkhitaryan543]

Brilliant performance!

[@JeanClaudeWelche]

Very interesting and beautiful !

[@MrLuridan]

Wonderful performance, by the way!

[@lotusbuds2000]

she sounds amazing

[@VideoFunForAll]

Fascinating!

[@YahelMusic]

Magnifica interpretación!

[@xochj]

The 5 string makes this Suite so much easier, at least for me. Ant it allows me to better express what I want. Well done!

[@seanmarshall7529]

what a start... wow

[@klaasjoon]

Outstanding!

[@mizuo_semura]

AMAZING!!

[@doctormock1]

It is a beautiful performance, although I wish the Prelude had been at a more consistent tempo. Interesting to see Bach setting a precedent for our contemporary use of extended range instruments.

[@egomorfo]

what a perfection!

[@celloplayer7838]

So awesome!

[@pascalpoussin1209]

Your Allemande and Sarabande are gorgeous, poetic and romantic both in a lovely baroque way... (I presume it's baroque, I'm no expert)

[@ennoshita7495]

It is baorque :)

[@pascaleweber7206]

Wauw! Geweldig! Fantastisch !

[@JeremyHarbottleMusic]

Absolutely wonderful! A really inspiring interpretation :-)

[@qcelloworld]

Long long long time no see, Beiliang! An excellent performance.

[@kevwang0712]

I very much appreciate how she avoids using the thumb in general, and the half-string harmonic in the main motif of the prelude. Even when playing an 5-string violoncello piccolo, so many people simply use the same technique they're used to on the modern 4-string cello, without seriously thinking about what the size and the extra string of the instrument allows technique-wise.

[@XOX-ZOMBIE-XOX]

Enjoying it lots

[@PTCello]

Fabulous

[@diegodaft]

Bravo.... mil veces bravo!!!!

[@HeifetzMusic]

Check out Beiliang Zhu's newest Bach video: The Suite No. 3: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHq7emeom62Sgqc

[@pagorami5253]

what a great speaker!!

[@donisjordan249]

She owns the piece. Heifetz....! where are you ?

[@lounakin]

Magical!

[@marksands1861]

The 28 dislikes are probably from all the other cellists she beat out for first chair in past auditions. Lol.

[@paulgerards6494]

42 @ the moment !!!

[@paulgerards6494]

@Greg Monks Put my thumb UP! And you?

[@paulgerards6494]

Forget about the Milennials ;)

[@paulgerards6494]

@Greg Monks Let your Heart sing !!

[@lamhoichan3084]

你的琴技非凡，惊人的演奏，奇特的精彩。音色透明，优美动听。表情优雅

[@fionnualaannsheehan5971]

superb

[@danglybit1]

Sublime

[@costa1788]

Best interpretation

[@chelistian]

muy bien !!! es injusto que los cellistas tengamos que tocar esta pieza tan extremadamente difícil para el cello moderno. siendo que en este instrumento se ve tan fácil y suena mucho mejor.

[@mikerusli9660]

I would love to study with this wonderful artist.

[@sarahturnock8252]

just wonderful :)

[@franciscouderq1100]

I agree

[@XOX-ZOMBIE-XOX]

Thanks

[@wfaexsug8330]

Amazing and magnificent technical beauty with musical sensitivity so rare. Thank you so much for posting this it is truly inspirational. Are there any more recent posting I have looked but could not see any? Is this instrument your 3/4 5-string made by Jay Haide in 2011, that you had the bridge and fingerboard reshaped? If not some details would be appreciated and what is the bow name and details as to where I might get one. Moving and inspiring at the same time I hope one day soon you choose to tour Australia. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[@beiliangzhu]

Thanks for your enthusiasm! Yes this is that instrument. The bow is made by Louis Begin from Montreal. I would love to tour Australia some day. It's a beautiful country. :)

[@craigcowing1107]

@@beiliangzhu did you choose a 3/4 instrument because it was the right size for you, or were you aiming for an instrument more like the size of a violoncello piccolo?

[@beiliangzhu]

It was just the instrument that I came across when I was looking and liked it!

[@andreashelling3076]

Makes one really want try a piccolo cello, and man a Haide shouldnt be that expensive either ! How much musical flexibelity here which I love, wounder if she plays the other suites too and with what cello...greetings from Finland

[@gerbenschwab9588]

Someone's set a new standard here. Unsurpassed!

[@ademirsorato]

Bravooo 👋👋

[@tarteampion8039]

Très bien.

[@douglasbertram4477]

Also: that upper register is to *die* for.

[@user-ci2gj2ub5z]

와아... 대단하시네요 파이팅