The late David Watkin, a renowned cellist and distinguished interpreter of Baroque music, received both a Gramophone Award (2015) and a BBC Music Magazine Award (2016) for his acclaimed recording of J.S. Bach’s Cello Suites, BWV 1007–1012. The recording was also recently voted the finest interpretation of Bach’s Cello Suites by BBC Radio 3’s Record Review in its ‘Building a Library’ series (2026).

Rightly considered as the pinnacle of writing for solo cello, Watkin gives a captivating and truly individual account of the six suites, the result of decades of performing and studying these compelling and fascinating works.

The six Suites are recorded on gut strings and on two original historic instruments of note, including the unique five-string cello by Brothers Amati, dating from c. 1600, and a four-string by a likely pupil of Amati, Francesco Rugeri, dating from c. 1670.