Pieter Wispelwey

Pieter Wispelwey (Haarlem, 25 September 1962) is a Dutch cellist.
In 1992 he received the Dutch Music Prize.

Wispelwey, born in Haarlem and raised in Santpoort, moved to Amsterdam at the age of 19, where he lived until his move to Grootschermer. As a child he frequently heard the rehearsals of the string quartet in which his father played.
Later he took lessons from among others Anner Bijlsma, the British William Pleeth and the American Paul Katz. In 1990 he made his first cd for the small label Channel Classics Records (Bach's cello suites), which was well received. This was followed by more performances and greater recognition, especially abroad. There were also new cd recordings (at Channel Classics) of music by Benjamin Britten, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Zoltán Kodály, etc.

Wispelwey masters both modern and old (baroque) cellos. His recording of the Beethoven sonatas and variations (with Dejan Lazic) is for example 'modern', whereas his first with Paul Komen were 'authentic'. In this he is exceptional, since playing on gut strings requires different technique than on steel. Wispelwey plays various musical styles and has performed and recorded a varied repertoire (from 1600 to present).

In particular, Wispelwey's bowing technique is praised. This largely produces 'long lines', arcs of tension over many measures.