A renowned cellist and author, celebrated for his expressive performances and insightful writings on music, particularly on the lives and works of famous composers.
Acclaimed soloist, chamber musician, educator, writer, and broadcaster, Steven Isserlis is widely regarded as one of the leading musicians of his generation, known for his diverse repertoire and distinctive sound, which is deployed with his use of gut strings.
Born into a musical family in London on 19 December 1958, Isserlis was surrounded by music from a young age. His mother was a piano teacher, and his father was a keen amateur musician. One of his sisters, Annette, is a viola player, and his other sister, Rachel, is a violinist.
Isserlis has described how playing music was an integral part of his early family life. He went to the City of London School, leaving at the age of 14 to move to Scotland to study under the tutelage of Jane Cowan. From 1976 to 1978, he studied at the Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio, USA.
Isserlis has had a illustrious career, performing with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. He has worked with renowned conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Colin Davis, and Vladimir Ashkenazy.
He is particularly known for his interpretations of the Bach Cello Suites, which he has recorded to critical acclaim. Isserlis has also been praised for his performances of the Elgar Cello Concerto, the Schumann Cello Concerto, and the Dvorak Cello Concerto.
Isserlis has received numerous awards for his contributions to music, including the Royal Philharmonic Society Music Award in 1993, the Robert Schumann Prize of the City of Zwickau in 2000, and both the Wigmore Hall Medal and the Glashütte Original Music Festival Award in 2017.
His recordings have garnered two Gramophone Awards, a Classical BRIT Award, a BBC Music Magazine Award, and two Grammy Award nominations, among others. He is also one of the only two living cellists inducted into the Gramophone Hall of Fame.
Isserlis currently plays on the 1726 Marquis de Corberon cello made by Antonio Stradivari, on loan from the Royal Academy of Music. This instrument is renowned for its rich and expressive tone, which perfectly suits Isserlis's distinctive playing style.
In 2014, Isserlis revealed a fascinating family anecdote on the Midweek programme. His pianist grandfather, Julius Isserlis, who was a Russian Jew, was one of 12 musicians allowed to leave Russia in the 1920s to promote Russian culture. However, he never returned. On arrival in Vienna in 1922, Isserlis's grandfather and father found a flat, but the 102-year-old landlady refused to take them in, citing a previous musician tenant who was noisy and would spit on the floor – none other than Ludwig van Beethoven.
Steven Isserlis's contributions to the world of classical music have been immense. Through his performances, recordings, and writings, he has inspired a new generation of cellists and music lovers alike. His distinctive sound and commitment to the preservation of traditional playing styles have ensured that his legacy will continue to thrive for years to come.
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