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As a cellist working with some of the finest orchestras in London, for the past quarter century, London Octave's director Dietrich Bethge, has played in innumerable concerts and recordings with many of the world's leading artists. "Some were great, some indifferent, and some, lets face it, even bad" he says. "But I have always been interested why, on occasion, performances admirable in every way, failed to produce the mood-changing experience, the "magic" and "life" where true authenticity lies and which is the real raison d'etre of classical music."
In his highly successful series of concerts with the London Octave at St Martins-in-the-Fields, and on this CD, Bethge has nurtured these elusive qualities by creating an atmosphere where the players can play as they want, not as they are instructed. He sees his job as director to "direct" almost not at all, but to let the players be guided by their own ears, feelings and instinct. "This works very well because of the outstanding individual talents of the performers, who have played together over many years" he says.
"Everyone who has heard these performances has been delighted with the vitality of the sound, the freshness with which this music is approached. "It is the hope of the players of the London Octave that listening to this CD, you will enjoy some of the life and magic of the Baroque with these familiar and wonderful pieces" says Bethge.

LORRAINE McASLAN  initially trained in London and moved to New York at the age of seventeen to study at the Juilliard School on the recommendation of Isaac Stern. She has made several recordings, one of which was the first choice of BBC Radio's  Record Review Program, and has performed in concert halls throughout Europe. The Strad Magazine called her "one of the most distinguished British violinists of her generation." The Daily Telgraph wrote: "She persuades you to listen by dint of her utter sincerity and her total absence of outward display"




YEVGENY SUDBIN was born in St Petersburg in 1980 and at an early age entered a specialist music school at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. When, in 1990, his family emigrated to Germany he continued his studies in Berlin  and later in London at the Royal Academy of Music with Christopher Elton. He is a prizewinner at major international competitions and has given many concerts in Europe, USA and Russia, many of which have been broadcast on Radio and TV. The Independent commented on his London debut: "absolutely delicious. A great recital."