Cantus

LONG: Christian-Pierre La Marca has an anomalous approach to interpreting the classical repertoire. On his album of Bach’s Cello Suites, for example, he occasionally played at a quicker tempo than most other performances, producing a unique and alluring set of recordings. On *Cantus*, La Marca takes up a much larger project: a selection of major sacred works transcribed for cello. Being one of the closest sounding instruments to the human voice, the cello is a beautiful showcase for these delicate, lyrical movements. La Marca’s playing on Piazzolla’s “Ave Maria” is especially bewitching, and Tavener’s “Funeral Ikos” is a somber pleasure.