Matthieu Delage revisits the work of Bach

Bach's genius continues to inspire generations after generations, transcending eras and embracing universality. On record as in concerts, arrangements, transpositions, transcriptions or adaptations are legion, Bach himself having left many avenues open in this area.

The program concocted by Matthieu Delage is a new illustration of this, all the more interesting since Bach was obviously never able to write for the saxophone, patent no. 3226 having been filed by Adolphe Sax on March 21, 1846 (i.e. almost a century after his death).

As a soloist for the Cello Suites , Matthieu Delage offers an interpretation that is both faithful and modern, displaying the full lyrical dimension of his instrument.

The Preludes from the Well-Tempered Clavier, in dialogue with the violist Violaine Despeyroux and the guitarist Benjamin Garson, embody a twirling and aerial Bach.

The Goldberg Variations, with saxophonist Guillaume Perret, merge jazz and classical in perfect complementarity. But the most jazzy moment of the album is undoubtedly the famous aria “Erbarme dich” taken from the Saint Matthew Passion, arranged by saxophonist, guitarist and by drummer Baptiste Dolt.

The album ends with a piece that has long been attributed to Bach, “Bist du bei mir” – actually from an opera by Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel – once again demonstrating the saxophonist's agility, particularly in the high register.

“ Proof has now been made that Bach still speaks to us, that he is still modern, as long as we know how to listen to him, as Matthieu Delage did, with sincerity and humility ” - Bruno Guermonprez, President of Victoires du Jazz.