Steven Isserlis
Cello
⟹ United Kingdom, 1958
⟹ 1st x Cello Biënnale
⟹ Plays the ‘Marquis de Corberon’ Stradivarius from 1726 – on loan from the Royal Academy of Music
The British cellist Steven Isserlis feels equally at home in music from Baroque to contemporary, performs with the world’s most prestigious orchestras, and has given countless world premieres, including Sir John Tavener's The Protecting Veil, Thomas Adès’ Lieux retrouvés, four works for solo cello by György Kurtág, and pieces by Heinz Holliger, Jörg Widmann, Olli Mustonen, Mikhail Pletnev, and many others.
His extensive and decorated discography comprises a significant part of the cello repertoire, including J.S. Bach’s cello suites (Gramophone Instrumental Album of the Year), Beethoven’s complete works for the cello and piano, and Brahms’ double concerto with Joshua Bell and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. He is a two-time Grammy nominee.
He is also an author, and has written – among other things – a critically acclaimed book about Bach’s cello suites and two children’s books about classical composers. He has also written a commentary on Schumann’s famous Advice to Young Musicians.
In 1998, he was named Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth II, in recognition of his services to music.
