David Watkin - Cello

David Watkin's performing embraces many of the various musical styles from the last three centuries. He is the first cellist in modem times to give complete concerts using the eighteenth-century technique of realising figured bass on the cello, which he has detailed in an article in Early Music and used in a recording of Corelli's Op5 Sonatas (Novalis).

He is a member of the Eroica Quartet specialising in the performance of nineteenth-century music. He has also appeared as soloist with many of London's leading period instrument orchestras and as principal cello with The Academy of Ancient Music, The English Baroque Soloists and L 'Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique.

His recording of the Vivaldi Cello Sonatas (Hyperion) received much critical acclaim, including the maximum ten stars from The BBC Music Magazine. His article on the Beethoven Cello Sonatas is published by CUP in Performing Beethoven.

Howard Moody and David Watkin met in the National Youth Orchestra in 1979 where they were principal cello and principal second violin. Their debut was hailed in The Times as absolutely electrifying. Gramophone wrote of their recording of Beethoven Cello Sonatas, recently released by Chandos Records, If you're not sure about the advantages of original- instrument performance of classical chamber music, try this disc!.

David Watkin on Guild Music

• GMCD 7141 Farewell to Hirta

Page revised 03.09.2000