Cellist Pieter Wispelwey, born in Haarlem and raised in Santpoort, is one of the most versatile and innovative musicians of his generation. His musical journey began at a young age, inspired by the rehearsals of the string quartet in which his father played. At the age of 19, he moved to Amsterdam, where he developed his musical career further with lessons from leading cellists such as Anner Bijlsma, William Pleeth and Paul Katz.
In 1990, Wispelwey made his first CD recording with the cello suites of Johann Sebastian Bach for the label Channel Classics Records. This recording was a tremendous success and immediately put him on the international map. Since then, countless performances and new recordings of works by, among others, Benjamin Britten, Ludwig van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms have followed. His talent and versatility soon made him a highly sought-after artist, both in the Netherlands and beyond.
Unique repertoire
Wispelwey excels on both modern and baroque cellos, something that few achieve. He masters playing on gut strings and steel strings, which requires unique flexibility in technique and interpretation. This is clearly evident in his recordings of the Beethoven sonatas, in which he presents both modern and authentic performances, in collaboration with pianists such as Dejan Lazić and Paul Komen.
His repertoire encompasses music from the early baroque to contemporary compositions. Wispelwey loves bold choices, exploring not only the standard cello repertoire but also works by lesser-known composers including Sofia Gubaidulina and George Crumb. His love for the cello has led to a wide variety of recordings, giving his discography a wealth of musical styles and tone colours.
Technical mastery and artistic depth
One of the praised aspects of Wispelwey's playing is his bowing technique. He creates long lines and arcs of tension with his cello that extend over multiple measures, giving his performances particular intensity and depth. His command of both the technical and emotional sides of playing make him a unique voice in the cello world.
Launch of 35-CD box
From 1 November 2024, a 35-CD box is available containing all the recordings of the cellist at Channel Classics from the period of his 'olympic years'. Special features of this box are the two recordings of the famous cello suites by J.S. Bach, of which this one from 1990 and the second recording which was awarded the Golden Label CD by Klassiek Centraal. It was presented during a recital in Studio 3 of Flagey in Brussels. In addition, the set contains recordings with large orchestras such as the Budapest Festival Orchestra under Iván Fischer and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. Chamber music recordings, such as the sonatas of Brahms and Beethoven with Dejan Lazić and duo repertoire with Paolo Giacometti, make this box a remarkable document of Wispelwey's versatility as a musician.
In addition to the aforementioned works, the box also contains recordings of more contemporary composers such as Ligeti and Britten, as well as special recordings of Vivaldi's sonatas and Schubert's quintet in C with the Orpheus String Quartet. This collection allows the listener to appreciate Wispelwey's knowledge and love for the cello and to follow his evolution as an artist.
Cello Biënnale Amsterdam 2024
The launch of this box coincides with the tenth edition of the Cello Biënnale in Amsterdam, which takes place from 31 October to 10 November 2024. Wispelwey, who has played a prominent role in this festival from the beginning, will be heard in many guises this year as well. Artistic director Maarten Mostert emphasizes Wispelwey's special contribution: "Since the beginning of the Cello Biënnale in 2006, Pieter has been one of our leading artists. His endless interest in challenging and unusual repertoire makes him the ideal festival artist." During the biënnale, Wispelwey will sign the 35-CD box at the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, a unique opportunity.