Alisa Weilerstein, St John's Smith Square

With its rich, warm sound, the cello is one of the most captivating of all classical instruments. Due to its bass tone, however, it often finds itself playing second fiddle to the violin, with comparatively fewer leading parts. When it does get a chance to shine, it almost invariably dazzles.

Bach’s six Cello Suites, composed between 1717-23, are to the cello what his Sonatas and Partitas are to the violin. Each one spans six short movements based on baroque dance forms. Remarkably, they create the effect of three- or four- contrapuntal voices with a single line. Although mathematically precise like many of Bach’s works, they boast a spectacular emotional range and spiritual depth. In the hands of a virtuosic player, the Cello Suites spring to miraculous life.

The American cellist Alisa Weilerstein is one such musician. Her recordings have won plaudits the world over; in 2011 she received a MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant. In her hands, Bach’s Cello Suites should truly soar heavenwards. This will be one of the highlights of the entire Southbank 2016/17 season.

Ticket sales for the Southbank Centre’s 2016-17 season open on 9 Feb to members and 23 Feb to the general public.