British/American cellist Bartholomew LaFollette makes his debut recording on Champs Hill Records with a programme of Brahms, bookended by the two great sonatas for cello, the second of which (F major Op 99) is heard in the brand new edition by Ba¨renreiter. 

"To say that I’ve always had a great love for these sublime works is an understatement. I grew up knowing the sonatas by Brahms as so many cellists do – the E minor, in particular, being a piece I’ve played since I was 12 (although I’m sure not very well back then) so to me, playing these works feels like coming home."

The programme also includes transcriptions of Brahms’ Four Serious Songs (arr Shafran) which LaFollette describes as growing to love ‘by osmosis’ through hearing them at home, performed by his parents (his father a classically trained amateur musician, doctor and computer scientist and his mother a professional pianist). He describes this project as inspired by "Home and family. Two very important facets of both my existence as a human being and as an artist."

LaFollette has a rich and varied career as an international soloist and chamber musician. After being launched by YCAT (Young Classical Artists Trust) he went on to win first prize at The Arts Club’s and Decca Records’ inaugural Classical Music Award. He was also the first recipient of the Irish Chamber Orchestra’s Arda´n Award. Hailed by the Irish Times for being “as free in touching the heartstrings as he was in dashing off dazzling runs”, Bartholomew’s highlights with orchestra include performances of Dvor?a´k’s Cello Concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Walton and Elgar Cello concertos in the Barbican Hall as well as appearing as soloist with the City of London Sinfonia. 

In 2011 at the age of twenty-six, Bartholomew LaFollette was appointed Principal Cello Teacher at the distinguished Yehudi Menuhin School. Bartholomew plays on an especially fine example of a Giovanni Dollenz cello from 1841 and a bow by Franc¸ois Xavier Tourte from 1790.