Biography

‘Cello playing of incomparable technical and musical accomplishment’ (The Sunday Times), ‘deeply communicative and highly individual performances’ (New York Times) and ‘supremely lyrical and furiously intense’ (The Guardian), are just a few of the accolades that Pieter Wispelwey has acquired over the years. This charismatic Dutch cellist is also renowned for being equally at ease playing both Baroque and modern instruments. For Baroque repertory he uses a 1710 Rombouts instrument, and for romantic and modern music a 1760 Guadagnini cello. With his acute stylistic awareness, combined with a truly original interpretation and phenomenal technical mastery, Wispelwey has won the hearts of critics and public alike in repertory from Bach to Schnittke. In 1992 he became the first cellist ever to receive the Netherlands Music Prize, which is awarded to the most promising young musician in the Netherlands. Wispelwey’s discography encompasses more than twenty recordings, his career spans five continents and he has appeared as soloist with many of the world’s leading orchestras. 10th LMMC engagement.

Robert Markow