W hen French cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras finally returned to recording with close friends and colleagues following last year’s first European lockdown, he did so with an immense sense of joy. Of course, social distancing regulations were still in place, but just ‘being in the same room with other musicians, combining sounds again, creating harmony, experiencing rhythm’ was a hugely emotional experience. Adding to that intensity was the choice of repertoire – Beethoven’s ‘Triple’ Concerto – and the chance to work once more with frequent musical partner Isabelle Faust. On page 26 Pauline Harding speaks to Queyras about the importance of forging long-term collaborations with like-minded artists, and about stretching his technique and musicianship in new and exciting repertoire.