Gavriel Lipkind

For latest material please contact Ms Andrea Kleibel • +43-699-1947-3893 • andrea@lipkind.info
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GAVRIEL LIPKIND

Gavriel Lipkind, born in Tel Aviv in 1977, enjoyed an early stellar rise to international renown as a young cellist, before making the decision to question a predefined life and halt a predictable path. He decided to take a three-year period of retreat from stage life, during which he devoted himself to further studies and recording. An iconoclastic thinker, Mr. Lipkind’s work today stands for consistent thought and intrinsic musical inspiration without compromising quality — an almost unattainable goal in the life of performing soloists today. Being a genuine fanatic of musical detail and audio documentation, Mr. Lipkind has chosen a radical path of innovation in his profession.

" [...] Lipkind is a total one-off [...] he plays as if possessed [...] This was edge-of-the-seat, white knuckle playing [...] " The Independent (five star review *****)


Solo

Gavriel Lipkind has appeared in some of the world's most prestigious venues, including the Concertgebouw, Suntory Hall, Kennedy Center and Berlin Philharmonie, with preeminent orchestras like the Israel Philharmonic, the Munich Philharmonic and the Baltimore Symphony. He has worked alongside outstanding musicians – Zubin Mehta, Philippe Entremont, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Yehudi Menuhin, Pinchas Zukerman, Yuri Bashmet and Gidon Kremer.

A major recording endeavor featuring Saint-Saëns, Schumann and Shostakovich concerti marked the beginning of this year's ongoing partnership with Sinfonia Varsovia. This collaboration also started Gavriel's Cello Heroics series of recordings – A Soloist's Diary – and leads to further performances with that orchestra in the Benelux.

Two return concert tours to Japan this year, both including performances at Suntory Hall, resulted in Tokyo's audiences standing in exuberant sustained ovations. The first tour included the rarely performed Pfitzner Concerto No. 3 with the New Japan Philharmonic; the second tour featured a Tchaikovsky Gala performing Rococo Variations and Andante Cantabile at Suntory Hall, a concert that launched National Philharmonic of Russia's debut tour in Japan, conducted by Vladimir Spivakov.

The Cello Concertante project — in which Lipkind both conducts and plays an entire program of works for cello and chamber orchestra — gave him the opportunity to direct the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, the Brussels Chamber Orchestra and the Kremerata Baltica, the latter collaboration offering a revised rendition of Schumann's cello concerto.

Among the larger concerti, Lipkind now concentrates on Saint-Saens’ concerto with the Kyoto Symphony, Prokofiev's Sinfonia Concertante last performed with the American Symphony under Leon Botstein, as well as the concertos by Dvořák and Elgar, and the Shlomo Rhapsody by Bloch, all of which he performs extensively across Europe and Japan.

Dohnányi’s Konzertstück at Queen Elizabeth Hall concludes Lipkind's concerto activity for the year.


Duolisms

For over 15 years, Gavriel Lipkind has dedicated his efforts to an award winning collaboration with pianist Roman Zaslavsky – two lifelong friends performing onstage as one unit. Gavriel’s focus on merging the two very different sonic worlds of the cello and piano created a musical dialogue at once balanced and dynamic, winning a continuously growing international audience. Having performed together onstage in hundreds of concerts, theduohas recorded forLipkindProductions its first two albums; „Absolutes“ with works by Beethoven, Brahms and Britten, and „Specialties“ with works by Schumann, Schubert, Franck, are scheduled for release in 2010 as part of the series "Duolisms".


Lipkind Quartet

After a season of concert debuts with the Lipkind Quartet across Germany, Switzerland, Holland, and Norway, the press exclaimed: "A different way of making music [...] notsubordinateto thestereotypesof today’s concert world,but rather is a result of mutual respect, knowledge and mastery [...] a marvelous acoustic experience [...], a string quartet, which is well capable of stepping into the footprints of the Alban Berg Quartet" (Thüringer Allgemeine). The Lipkind Quartet continues touring with a program titled: „In Search of New Worlds“ featuring works by Bloch, Barber, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, and Dvořák.


Lipkind Productions

The unique success story of self-produced recordings that began with Gavriel's unusual interpretation of Bach's Cello Suites and his virtuoso album "Miniatures & Folklore" continues. In 2010, Lipkind Productions will release additional titles in its tripartite recording series Cello Heroics, Duolisms and Lipkind Quartet.


Teaching

In addition to being a unique interpreter, Gavriel is an inspiring teacher. As a passionate advocate of supporting and encouraging young talent, he enjoys giving master classes around the world as well as performing lecture recitals.


The Instrument

Gavriel Lipkind plays a unique Italian cello labeled "Aloysius Michael Garani (Bologna, 1702)" estimated, however, to have been completed in the years 1670-1680, an enigma which has come to be known as the "Zihrhonheimer" cello.

Thus, while Gavriel continues setting new artistic goals and challenging the limitations of a soloist’s life, he naturally transforms his musicianship — and the lifestyle it implies — into a richly complex holistic mission.

"Gavriel Lipkind… proves that he is certainly the finest cellist playing today.“ (Bernard Greenhouse, 2006)

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PressQuotes

English:

„...Gavriel Lipkind was enterprising, performing Gaspar Cassadó's unaccompanied Suite. His reading was bold and committed, effecting a genuine assimilation of the smoldering Spanish rhythms and harmonies. Then came his own transcription of the Wieniawski war-horse Scherzo-Tarantelle. Just managing the technical demands was an awesome achievement. But following fast on the heels of this feat, Lipkind produced a magnificent account of Popper's Elfentanz: a marathon virtuoso display...“

„...The real sensation...both performances had great intensity...with an eloquent, often inward Beethoven op. 102 no. 1, replete with marvelous dynamic contrasts and a Shostakovich which never needed to slow too much for moments such as the first movement's second subject...”

The Strad Magazine

"„...It's a measure of Volans's success that his cello concerto has been so enthusiastically taken up by a soloist of the calibre of Gavriel Lipkind. This was the first performance of a revised version which, at Lipkind's request, is even more relentless and uncompromising...

...Lipkind played it from memory with the unbridled panache of a rock artist...“ ”

The Irish Times

"...He performed "Schlomo" as though to the manner born, with tender yet richly pleading tonal effect. The reading ended with almost underplayed orchestral sonorities leading to a single overwhelming outburst before the soloist's whispered final notes...” ”

New Jersey news

„...Lipkind played with authority, most impressive technique and fine lyricism...”

Washington Post

"...Gavriel Lipkind, brought terrific skills to the concerto. There was something almost impetuous and defiant - acerbic, even - in his playing, qualities perfectly suited to music by Shostakovitch...

...Lipkind's tone was ripe, his articulation precise. The soft, delicate phrases in the second movement emerged with particular care and beauty..."

Baltimore Sun

"...The most exciting part of the evening by far -- a genuine musical event -- came with the performance of the wonderful cello concerto by the American composer Samuel Barber.

...Gavriel Lipkind responded to Barber's challenge and offered an inspiring performance. Lipkind's love for this concerto was demonstrated in every note, but especially in the lyrical Andante sostenuto. He offered a gutsy performance, unafraid of showing deep emotions, playing with authority, enthusiasm and remarkable musicality...

...This promising young cellist must be brought back to the Valley, and soon..."

"...Gavriel Lipkind went one step further: He conversed and indeed breathed with the players, producing a magical performance of Mozart's Cello Concerto...

...Lipkind demonstrated that he is a consummate performer with gorgeous sound, flawless technique and great musicality..."

The Morning Call

"...A stellar performance... Lipkind possesses a unique personal sound, virtuoso bearing and full fledged interpretative sense..."

The Jerusalem Post

"...A sound which captivated the auditorium until it was barely possible to identify its source...

...With a remarkably light virtuosity, he attained a unique and very personal musical expression...

...he managed to attain the dream of all players (above all cellists: to speak with his instrument: to talk, to whisper, to murmur and even to shout with it. This is a real artist...

...a young artist with an amazing talent."

Ha'arez Newspaper