Henry-David Varema. Bach's Cello Suites

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)

Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007
Prelude
Allemande
Courante
Sarabande
Menuet I & II
Gigue

Cello Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008
Prelude
Allemande
Courante
Sarabande
Menuet I & II
Gigue

Cello Suite No. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 1010
Prelude
Allemande
Courante
Sarabande
Bourrée I & II
Gigue

March 31 marked the 340th anniversary of the birth of Johann Sebastian Bach. His work has profoundly shaped Western musical culture and continues to serve as a source of inspiration for both performers and listeners. Composed between 1717 and 1723, the six solo cello suites (BWV 1007–1012) remain cornerstones of every cellist’s repertoire.
Inspired by dance forms, these suites combine structural clarity, stylistic richness, and remarkable interpretative freedom, offering performers the opportunity to explore their inner logic and sonic potential in a deeply personal way.

Henry-David Varema is an esteemed cellist whose international career has taken him to renowned musical centers such as Wigmore Hall in London, Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, Philharmonie in Berlin, Herkulessaal in Munich, Auditorio Nacional de Música in Madrid, Tonhalle in Zurich, City Hall Concert Hall in Hong Kong, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, City Recital Hall in Sydney, Hamer Hall in Melbourne, and Carnegie Hall Weill Hall in New York. Additionally, he has performed at prestigious festivals such as Gstaad, Rheingau, Schwarzenberg, Salzburg, Schleswig-Holstein, and Edinburgh.

From 2003 to 2009, he was a member of the internationally acclaimed Petersen Quartet, which was based in Berlin. The quartet’s numerous recordings, including works by composers such as Lera Auerbach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Alban Berg, Cesar Franck, Dmitri Shostakovich, Ernst Křenek, Fabian Müller, Aribert Reimann, Alfred Schnittke, Arnold Schönberg, Robert Schumann, and Anton Webern, garnered several prestigious awards, including the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik and ECHO Classic. He has also recorded Estonian music for Estonian Radio and record labels such as Warner Classics, Antes, and Dux.

In recent years, Henry-David Varema has collaborated with violinist Mari Poll and pianist Mihkel Poll. As a trio, they have been active since 2013, giving concerts in prominent venues, including the Konzerthaus in Berlin and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.

Henry-David Varema has also served as the principal cellist of the Estonian National Opera for a long time and has been a guest principal in several orchestras, such as Camerata Nordica in Sweden, Northern Sinfonia in the UK, Munich Chamber Orchestra in Germany, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Chamber Orchestra in Berlin, and Auckland Philharmonia in New Zealand. In 2014, he spent one season as associate principal cellist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He has conducted masterclasses in cello and chamber music at universities across Europe, the USA, Canada, Brazil, and Australia, and has been a jury member at various competitions, including the international chamber music competition Premio Trio di Trieste in Italy.

Since 2001, Henry-David Varema has been a professor of cello and chamber music at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, where he currently serves as the Vice-Rector for Artistic Affairs and International Relations.