Marc Sabbah - J.S. Bach: Cello Suites Nos. 1-6, BWV 1007-1012 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah) (2026)

Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cello Suites are among the most iconic works in the history of music. Violist Marc Sabbah approaches them from a distinctive perspective, performing all six suites on the viola.

In the spirit of Baroque performance practice, Sabbah understands this transfer not as an exception, but as a continuation of a living tradition. The viola’s warm, dark timbre lends the music a particular sense of intimacy and depth.

As no autograph manuscript of the suites has survived, the copy by Anna Magdalena Bach forms the central basis for any interpretation—both a fascinating and challenging source. It largely omits indications of dynamics, articulation, and tempo, while phrasing and slurring can at times remain ambiguous. In addition, there are occasional notational inconsistencies.

It is precisely from this that a wide interpretative space emerges. The music calls for an active, reflective engagement with the score and its silences—an invitation for Sabbah to reveal the suites as living, deeply human music.

Tracklist
01. Bach- Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- I. Prélude
02. Bach- Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- II. Allemande
03. Bach- Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- III. Courante
04. Bach- Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- IV. Sarabande
05. Bach- Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- V. Menuet I & II
06. Bach- Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- VI. Gigue
07. Bach- Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- I. Prélude
08. Bach- Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- II. Allemande
09. Bach- Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- III. Courante
10. Bach- Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- IV. Sarabande
11. Bach- Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- V. Bourrée I & II
12. Bach- Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- VI. Gigue
13. Bach- Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- I. Prélude
14. Bach- Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- II. Allemande
15. Bach- Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- III. Courante
16. Bach- Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- IV. Sarabande
17. Bach- Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- V. Gavotte I & II
18. Bach- Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- VI. Gigue
19. Bach- Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- I. Prélude
20. Bach- Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- II. Allemande
21. Bach- Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- III. Courante
22. Bach- Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- IV. Sarabande
23. Bach- Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- V. Menuet I & II
24. Bach- Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- VI. Gigue
25. Bach- Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- I. Prélude
26. Bach- Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah) - II. Allemande
27. Bach- Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- III. Courante
28. Bach- Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- IV. Sarabande
29. Bach- Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- V. Bourrée I & II
30. Bach- Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010 (Arr. for Viola by Marc Sabbah)- VI. Gigue
31. Bach- Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012 (Arr. for Viola in G Major by Marc Sabbah)- I. Prélude
32. Bach- Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012 (Arr. for Viola in G Major by Marc Sabbah)- II. Allemande
33. Bach- Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012 (Arr. for Viola in G Major by Marc Sabbah)- III. Courante
34. Bach- Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012 (Arr. for Viola in G Major by Marc Sabbah)- IV. Sarabande
35. Bach- Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012 (Arr. for Viola in G Major by Marc Sabbah)- V. Gavotte I & II
36. Bach- Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012 (Arr. for Viola in G Major by Marc Sabbah)- VI. Gigue