15–25.08.2017 Astana, Kazakhstan

Denis Shapovalov

“Brilliant talent! He can be proud of his gift before all the world.” – with these words Shapovalov was characterized by famous Mstislav Rostropovich. Denis Shapovalov is set apart from the majority of gifted cellists with his fine and penetrating comprehension of the works he performs, his razor-sharp technique, and his incredibly expressive and lofty interpretation.

Shapovalov won recognition for his exceptional musical gift at the XI International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1998, taking the 1st prize and the gold medal as the unanimous choice of the jury. As one of the awards he was invited to the III World Cello Congress - for his American debut, he gave a successful performance at the Congress in Baltimore in 2000.

In 2000, Shapovalov finished the post-graduate course of the Moscow State Conservatory, where he studied under Professor Natalia Shakhovskaya. And for 11 years (2001-2012) he was a cello professor of the Moscow Conservatory.

Maestro Rostropovich distinguished Shapovalov among all Russian cellists and invited him to perform together with different orchestras in Russia, Great Britain and USA, as well as to participate in Rostropovich’s festivals in Azerbaijan and France. Shapovalov has performed in the concert series celebrating Rostropovich’s 75th birthday in New York and London along with outstanding musicians – M.Vengerov, E.Kissin, M.Argerich, Yu.Bashmet.

The young cellist has participated in numerous international festivals in Russia, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, USA, Japan, and China. In addition, Shapovalov collaborates with Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the St-Petersburg Philharmony, the chamber orchestra “Moscow Virtuosi”, the chamber orchestra “Moscow Soloists”, the Bayerische Rundfunk Orchestra, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, the Yomiuri Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra and chamber orchestra, Busan Philharmonic Orchestra, Bratislava Symphony Orchestra, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, Macao Symphony Orchestra.

Shapovalov works under such distinguished conductors as Lorin Maazel, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Vladimir Fedosseev, Yutaka Sado, Yoel Levi, Andrew Litton, Christian Badea, Vladimir Spivakov, Yuri Bashmet, Valery Poliansky, Thomas Sanderling, Boguslaw Dawidow, Julian Gallant, Gianadrea Noseda, Conrad van Alphen, Marc Tardue, and Jonathan Brett. His music partners are Rodion Schedrin, Vadim Repin, Nikolai Znaider, Sergey Babayan, Olga Kern, Alexander Ljubimov, John Nakamatsu, Alexander Ghindin, Andreas Mustonen.

Shapovalov’s performances are held in the world’s major concert halls – Bolshoi Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Royal Festival Hall and Barbican Center in London, Munchner Philharmonic, Megaron Concert Hall in Athens, Auditorio Nacional de Musica и Palacio de Congresos in Madrid, UNESCO Conference Hall in Paris, Vaduzerzaal in Liechtenstein, Avery Fisher Hall in New York, Peabody Auditorium in Daytona, Beijing Concert Hall in Beijing, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan and Suntory Hall in Tokyo.

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