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 further shaped his musical career 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 Channel Classics Records label. This recording was a tremendous success and immediately put him on the international map. Since then, there have been numerous performances and new recordings of works by Benjamin Britten, Ludwig van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms, among others. 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, a feat 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 brought 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 is acclaimed for his daring choices, exploring not only the standard cello repertoire but also performing works by lesser-known composers such as Sofia Gubaidulina and George Crumb. His deep knowledge of and love for the cello has enabled him to record an enormous variety of music, making his discography a wealth of musical styles and tonal colours.
Technical mastery and artistic depth
One of the aspects of Wispelwey's playing that is often praised is his exceptional bowing technique. He creates long lines and tension arcs with his cello that stretch across multiple measures, giving his performances a special intensity and depth. His mastery of both the technical and emotional aspects of playing make him a unique voice in the world of classical music.
Launch of monumental 35-CD boxset
From 1 November 2024, an impressive 35-CD boxset is available which contains all the recordings of the cellist at Channel Classics from the period of his 'olympic years'. Extra highlights of this boxset are the two recordings of the famous cello suites of J.S. Bach, the first of which was released in 1990 and is considered a reference recording worldwide. The second recording was awarded the Golden Label CD of Klassiek Centraal. It was presented during a recital in Studio 3 of Flagey in Brussels. In addition, the set contains recordings with major orchestras such as the Budapest Festival Orchestra under the direction of Iván Fischer and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. Chamber music recordings, such as the Brahms and Beethoven sonatas with Dejan Lazić and duo repertoire with Paolo Giacometti, make this boxset a special document of Wispelwey's versatility as a musician.
In addition to works by Bach, the box also contains recordings of modern composers such as Crumb, 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 fully appreciate Wispelwey's deep knowledge of and love for the cello and to follow his evolution as an artist.
Cello Biënnale Amsterdam 2024
The launch of this boxset 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 again this year. Artistic director Maarten Mostert emphasizes Wispelwey's special contribution: "From 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 boxset at the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, a unique opportunity.