Mario Brunello Plays Bach at Megaron Athens: A rare encounter between sound, instrument and perspective

A bold reinterpretation of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin, performed on the piccolo cello

On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 20:30, the internationally acclaimed cellist Mario Brunello returns to the Athens Concert Hall (Megaron), performing in the Dimitris Mitropoulos Hall with a programme dedicated to Johann Sebastian Bach’s masterpieces for solo violin.

Widely recognized since 1986, when he became the first Italian to win the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, Brunello has established himself as one of the leading soloists of his generation. In recent years, his restless and inquisitive artistic spirit has led him toward an unusual and compelling direction: the exploration of the piccolo cello, a rare and historically “lost” member of the string family that bridges the sonic worlds of the violin and the cello.

With this instrument, Brunello completes at the Megaron an ambitious artistic project initiated in the previous season: the performance of Bach’s complete Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin. These landmark works of the Baroque repertoire, celebrated for their intricate polyphony and structural brilliance, are presented here through a new sonic perspective, revealing unexpected layers of their expressive depth.

As Brunello himself poetically notes, “the violin reaches the summit from the bright southern side, while the piccolo cello climbs from the dark northern one, yet the mountain remains the same.” This striking image encapsulates his deep connection to Bach’s music and his desire to approach it from a fresh and unconventional angle.

Following the great success of his previous appearance, Brunello’s return to Athens is highly anticipated, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience familiar works through an original and captivating sound world.

Programme
Johann Sebastian Bach
– Sonata No. 1 in G minor for solo violin, BWV 1001
– Partita No. 3 in E major for solo violin, BWV 1006
– Sonata No. 2 in A minor for solo violin, BWV 1003

Performer
Mario Brunello, piccolo cello