Works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Toshio Hosokawa and Chen Yi

Between Worlds

As principal viola of the Berlin Philharmonic, Diyang Mei is among the leading violists of his generation. In this extraordinary solo recital, he places three of Johann Sebastian Bach’s celebrated cello suites at the heart of the programme – works of timeless beauty that reveal a distinctive richness of tone when performed on the viola.

These are complemented by compositions by Toshio Hosokawa and Chen Yi, whose music opens up fascinating new perspectives on the solo instrument. The result is a programme that brings together Baroque clarity, East Asian-inspired sound poetry and classical expressiveness.

A concert that vividly demonstrates the versatility of the viola and reveals how directly Bach’s music continues to resonate today – across centuries and cultural boundaries.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Suite in G major for solo cello, BWV 1007

Chen Yi (born 1953)
Memory for solo viola

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Suite in D minor for solo cello, BWV 1008

Toshio Hosokawa (born 1955)
Lascia ch’io pianga for solo viola
(after Georg Friedrich Handel, 1685–1759)

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Suite in C major for solo cello, BWV 1009