ISLAMABAD: Renowned Spanish cellist Aldo Mata’s athleticism and artistry were on full display at a concert held at the Spanish embassy on Wednesday night.

“Every time a new piece was performed, I would think okay, this one has to be my favourite but then the next piece would start and somehow be even more spectacular,” an audience member said.

“They were vibrant, and brought a smile to my face. So, no, I can’t really tell you what my favourite was, because they were all so incredible in so many different ways,” another guest said.

The setting was the beautiful hall of Ambassador Jose A. de Ory’s residence that provided some context to deepen appreciation of the concert, making the compositions ascend to a new level.

The dim lighting served as magical charm and added to the atmospherics also highlighting ambassador Jose A de Ory’s beautiful collection of art.

The suites for unaccompanied cello Johann Sebastian Bach are some of the most frequently performed solo compositions ever written for cello. The Suite in E major was up first and proved an invigorating way to start the night. As the music proceeded through swirling strings to themes that ran from playful to dramatic to cinematic, Aldo Mata displayed his charisma in his emotive gestures, smiling as he dug into his cello in Suite no. 5 in C major. He seemed to have arrived at a place of freedom in the Suite no. 6.

With the support of the Embassy of Spain in Islamabad, the renowned Spanish cellist, Aldo Mata,

was coming back to Islamabad and Lahore this week. Ambassador Jose A. de Ory was pleased to introduce the artist after he welcomed his group of selected guests.

Aldo Mata was born in Madrid, where he began studying cello at the age of eight. From 1991 to1994, he studied at the Escuela Reina Sofía in Madrid. He holds a Master’s degree “cum laude” from the Chicago Musical College and a PhD “cum laude” with a specialty in cello, music history and chamber music from Indiana University (Bloomington), obtained with a thesis dedicated to Mozart’s Prussian Quartets.

From 2001 to 2010 he was co-principal cello of the Orchestra of Castilla y León, with which he has performed as soloist in Brahms’ Double Concerto and Haydn’s Symphony Concertante.

Mata obtained in 2002 the position of professor of violoncello at the Superior Conservatory of Salamanca. He has played in numerous countries all over the world. He is also a lecturer and researcher, with a number of articles published.

On May 4, at Alhamra Arts Council and in collaboration with the Lahore Jazz Club, Aldo Mata will offer a solo concert where he will play Johan Sebastian Bach’s Suite No. 4, Suite No. 5 and Suite No. 6.

Thus, Aldo Mata will complete the cycle started last year, when he offered suites No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, also at Alhamra Arts Council. Aldo Mata followed on the steps of Pablo Cassals who somehow rediscovered Bach’s cello suits to world audience, the Spanish embassy said.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2024