Rising cello star to perform reinterpretations of Bach's unaccompanied Cello Suites at Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Cellist Ashley Bathgate will perform reinterpretations of Johann Sebastian Bach's unaccompanied Cello Suites, featuring amplification, electronics, and multimedia at 8 p.m. Dec. 10 at Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse. This performance is presented by Purdue Convocations.

Bach's unaccompanied Cello Suites are among the most recognizable works ever written for the instrument. In Bach Unwound, Bathgate will perform these pieces and reinterpretations in an all-new recital. Like Pablo Casals, Mstislav Rostropovich and Yo-Yo Ma, Bathgate found creative liberation in the pieces' lack of prescribed dynamics. Bach Unwound came from a three-year collaboration with Sleeping Giant, a six-composer Brooklyn collective that includes Timo Andres (who performed at Purdue with Philip Glass in 2016). Each member of Sleeping Giant created one movement loosely based on corresponding movements in Bach's originals.

Bathgate creates a dynamic energy exchange with her audiences and builds upon that chemistry for a singular, organic performance. She is also as comfortable with rock 'n' roll as chamber ensembles, having worked with Questlove and members of the Arcade Fire, the National and Sonic Youth.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for those 18 and younger, Purdue students and Ivy Tech Lafayette students. Tickets are available at the Stewart Center box office at 765-494-3933 or 800-914-SHOW. Group tickets are also available to groups of 10 more. Call 765-496-1977 for more details or visit https://purdue.edu/convocations/group-sales/

Initiated in 1902, Purdue Convocations was one of the first professional performing arts presenters in the United States. Each year, Convocations offers the region 30-40 performances of widely varying genres. Purdue Convocations aims to promote frequent exposure to and familiarity with human cultural expression in a multitude of forms and media. 

Source: Abby Eddy, Purdue Convocations director of marketing, 765-494-9712, aeeddy@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: Publication-quality photographs are available at http://www.convocations.org/press