Goedde playing Bach

Press, 5 March 1984, Page 8

Goedde playing Bach

Walter Goedde playing Bach suites. State Trinity Centre, March 4, 11, 18. Reviewed by Margaret Buchanan. Walter Goedde has been playing the cello since the age of six and as a young man, now aged 28, has already held posts at the University of Indiana with Janos Starker and, since 1982, teaching at the University of Canterbury. Bach’s Suites for Unaccompanied Cello present the performer with the biggest challenges and demands made on the instrument Bach’s superb craftsmanship, exquisite in the most minute detail, lends itself especially to the filigree style of chamber music. Some of his works in this field belong to the most

inspired compositions he wrote. The majority owe their conception to the last Weimar years or to Bach’s activity in Cothen, where he was able to develop his instrumental style to

supreme mastery. Walter Goedde began with the first Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007, and immediately won the audience’s concentrated attention. The State Trinity Centre was not invaded by traffic noise from a usually busy city, the time of 1130 a.m. on a Sunday having been most carefully chosen for such a recital in this venue.

Goedde’s instrument is French and a little over a century old. It possesses a warm, dark, rich tone, which while not being loud

in its capacity has a most attractive colour. Each movement was sensitively shaped, with faultless intonation and expressive phrasing. The subtle differences of bowing articulation and emphasis produced a most satisfying and mature interpretation.

One of the most jewel-like movements was heard in the second work, Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWS 1611. The sarabande, the fifth movement, is a slow, serious, poetical piece which Goedde played mezzo-piano with great delicacy.

I commend the remaining two recitals to Christchurch audiences and assure them that here is a young virtuoso performer who should not be missed.