Istvan Vardai

cellist

HUNGARY

ISTVÁN VÁRDAI – Hungarian cellist, won many of the most prestigious cello competitions in the world, including the ARD Competition in Munich (2014) and International Tchaikovsky Competition (2007). He collaborated with partners including András Schiff, Yuri Bashmet, Gidon Kremer, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet and Mischa Maisky. In the 2018/19 season he performed with the Helsinki Philharmonic under Susanna Mälkki, the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Hannu Lintu, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Douglas Boyd. This year alone, he has performed at London’s Wigmore Hall three times, most recently with the legendary pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja and violinist Liza Ferschtman, on their European tour of Schubert Trios.

His discography includes works by Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, Martinů, Paganini, Beethoven, Popper, Janáček, Prokofiev, and Elgar. His most recent recording is of the Complete Bach Cello Suites, released by Brilliant Classics in 2017.

He is co-curator of the Kapostfest Chamber Music Festival in Hungary, together with violinist Kristóf Baráti, which has just celebrated its 10th anniversary.

In 2019 he served on the jury of the International Tchaikovsky Competition. At the beginning of 2019 he was appointed professor at Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts. He plays the legendary ‘Ex du Pré-Harrell’ Stradivari, made in 1673.