Natalia Gutman / cello

"She is an incarnation of truthfulness in music." Maestro Sviatoslav Richter
Among the world's most renowned cellists, Natalia Gutman received her early musical training from her grandfather Anisim Berlin and Professor Galina Kozolupova. Later, she studied with the late, cellist Mstislav Rostropovich and pianist Sviatoslav Richter, and her husband, violinist Oleg Kagan. Her career ascended as a result of several awards from major festivals, including a Gold Medal at the Vienna World Youth Festival, First Prize in the International Dvoràk Festival and a Gold Medal at the ARD. Subsequently, Gutman began an illustrious concert and recording career, performing on all continents and collaborating with celebrated conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Bernard Haitink, Kurt Mazur, Riccardo Muti, Mstislav Rostrapovich, Wolfgang Sawallisch and Yuri Temirkanov. While Natalia Gutman has performed the entire breadth of the cello repertory from the Baroque forward, her greatest focus has been on contemporary works. She has performed numerous premieres, including several works explicitly written for her by celebrated Russian composers such as Alfred Schnittke, Edison Denisov, and Sofia Gubaidulina. In recent years, Gutman has focused much on assisting young chamber musicians. She finds chamber music to be the most rewarding aspect of her life as a cellist.