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His vast award-winning discography includes the complete JS Bach Cello Suites (Gramophone Instrumental Album of the Year), Beethoven’s complete works for cello and piano, the Brahms double concerto with Joshua Bell and the Academy of St-Martin-in-the-Fields, and Grammy-nominated recordings of Haydn and Martinů.
As an author, his latest book is a critically-acclaimed companion to the Bach cello suites, while his two books for children about music are among the genre’s most popular and have been translated into many languages. He has also authored a commentary on Schumann’s Advice for Young Musicians. As a broadcaster, he has written and presented in-depth documentaries for BBC Radio, on Robert Schumann, and Harpo Marx.
As an insightful musical explorer and curator, he has programmed imaginative series for London’s Wigmore Hall, New York’s 92nd St Y, and the Salzburg Festival. Unusually he directs orchestras from the cello, including Luzerner Sinfonieorchester in 2019 with Radu Lupu in his final public performance.
He was awarded a CBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998, in recognition of his services to music. International recognition includes the Piatigorsky Prize (USA) and the Glashütte Original Music Festival Award (Germany). Since 1997, he has been Artistic Director of the International Musicians Seminar, Prussia Cove, Cornwall.
He plays the 1726 'Marquis de Corberon' Stradivarius, on loan from the Royal Academy of Music.
2024/25 season / 283 words. Not to be altered without permission.