The Archive - Paul Tortelier

The Archive - Paul Tortelier

This ‘The Archive’ episode is dedicated to the French cellist Paul Tortelier. He made his début in 1931, but it was only in 1946 that he played as a soloist, as in this 1969 TV program, where he performed Beethoven’s ‘Sonata No.3’ for cello and piano, accompanied by the Italian pianist Sergio Lorenzi at the Salle Gaveau in Paris. Throughout his career, Tortelier often performed with his wife and children; he does so in several excerpts recorded at their first English concert, at the 1964 Norwich Festival. First, Paul Tortelier performs the ‘Bourrée’ from Bach’s ‘Third Suite for cello’. Then, with his daughter and son, he plays ‘La Popelinière’ and ‘La Timide’ by Jean-Philippe Rameau. Following that, he plays the piano to accompany his wife in Fauré’s ‘Après un rêve’. To finish, he performs the second movement of Ravel’s Sonata for violin and cello, together with his son, as well as the largo and allegro from Handel’s Trio Sonata, together with his wife and daughter on the piano.