‘On a cello, you can do big things’ - Christian-Pierre La Marca

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Behind the scenes in a cramped corridor kitchen at London’s Kings Place, Christian-Pierre La Marca is trying to make two cups of tea, and it’s not an easy task. He has just performed a solo cello afternoon recital of Bach, Marais and Sollima at the venue, a concert that was very much a showcase for his graceful, colour-filled sound as well as his general ease with his instrument and other people – he genially introduced his pieces from the stage, smoothly handled an onstage retune for Bach’s scordatura Cello Suite no.5 in C minor and displayed an accomplished, darkly passionate singing voice for Sollima’s Lamentatio, with its additional wordless vocal line. Now, though, his ability to multitask is being tested by his having to locate the fridge and find a clean pair of mugs while engaging in pre-interview social chat that’s begun with the topics of parenthood and Aix-en Provence (where he grew up), but quickly moves into deeper territory as we mull over subjects such as nurturing young musicians, musical risk-taking and what being a musician actually means. I have a nagging thought that, as the Brit, I should be making the tea. But no matter. He’s clearly got it under control, and indeed we’re soon sitting in his dressing room, cups in hands. As I steer the conversation towards the main topics of the interview, including his new album, Legacy, he laughs. ‘Okay, I’ll follow you now,’ he says in his near-perfect English. ‘Let’s not be messy, like French people!’…