Philip Higham played all six Bach cello suites in three lunchtime concerts and between us we got to all of them. The venues were scattered around the city centre: Argyle St URC church, St Swithin’s and the Masonic Hall.
This was an impressive achievement as all three recitals were given from memory and the suites were fluently and expressively played. But comparing notes we both found that the performances were a little too soothing and lacking in drama. It was also rather disappointing that there weren’t more people there – I noticed some notable local Bach enthusiasts were absent. The Festival has some way to go to regain the popularity it once had.