reinventing Bach
On the 15th of November 2026, I have designed an extravagant day of exploration for British Cello Society: Reinventing Bach.
Throughout a day of group classes and performance, five imaginative, original interpreters of Bach’s music will encourage participants to open their ears in different ways. Baroque dancers, folk musicians, contemporary improvisers and baroque continuo players will come together to run classes exploring contrasting methods of engaging with scores, sound and movement across a variety of styles. The day is designed for cellists of every age and ability to participate with their instruments alongside some of the finest Bach interpreters. The day is open to players on baroque and modern instruments.
The morning carers specifically for younger cellists, with ensembles and arrangements of Bach used to give different perspectives on the suites. In the afternoon, more cellists will join, first for improvising a prelude in a large ensemble led by cellist Ernst Reijseger, then baroque dancer Fernando Santiago Serrano dos Santos will lead a baroque dance class in front of a baroque ensemble, after baroque cellists Joseph Crouch will discuss how consonants and vowels from text influences obligato bass line playing and lastly the violinist Max Baillie will deconstruct solo Bach to be played in a band with the Lodestar Trio. Cellist Roel Dieltiens joins for the evening where all the artists perform a short concert of Bach improvisations, suites, folk arrangements and cantatas.
The intention is to reframe these celebrated pieces and leave with authentic but unconventional tools to continue working with when next alone with Bach.