Lucia Swarts studied with Anner Bijlsma and Lidewij Scheifes at the Royal Conservatorium in The Hague, where she obtained the Concert Musician diploma in 1982. In her final year, she made her debut with a recital in the Kleine Zaal of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, as the winner of the New Vintage competition for talented young musicians.
In addition to her solo performances, she has devoted much time and energy to performing music from all periods in various chamber music ensembles, using period-appropriate instruments. In addition to the modern cello, she also plays the viola da spalla, the baroque cello, the basse de violon and the cello piccolo. The last three instruments are featured on this CD.
Although early music has a special place in her heart, she does not limit herself to playing the historical cello, but also dedicates herself to the romantic and contemporary repertoire. She has a deep love for Bach and is convinced of the great influence his music had on later composers, including Beethoven, Reger, Brahms, Mendelssohn and Gubaidulina.
Since 1983, Lucia has been principal cellist of the Netherlands Bach Society Baroque Orchestra and also plays in the Residentie Bach Ensemble and the Tulipa Consort. She was a member of the Asko|Schönberg ensemble from 1983 to 2017. She has participated in numerous recordings with these ensembles and with conductors such as Reinbert de Leeuw, Oliver Knussen, Gustav Leonhardt, Jos van Veldhoven and Sigiswald Kuijken.
