Robert Cohen
Robert Cohen made his concerto debut at the age of twelve at the Royal Festival Hall London and throughout the following forty years of his distinguished international career, has been hailed as one of the foremost cellists of our time. It is easy to hear what the fuss is about, he plays like a God (New York Stereo Review), A virtuoso of genius (Nürnberg Nachrichten), Robert Cohen is a divinely gifted cellist. Cohen is one of the few musicians, whose every tone speaks to people (Keskisuomalainen, Finland).
Invited to perform concertos world-wide by conductors Claudio Abbado, Antal Dorati, Sir Mark Elder, Mariss Jansons, Sir Charles Mackerras, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Kurt Masur, Riccardo Muti, Sir Roger Norrington, Tadaaki Otaka, Sir Simon Rattle, Stanisław Skrowaczewski, Michael Tilson-Thomas, Osmo Vanska. Robert Cohen has also collaborated in chamber music with Yehudi Menuhin, the Amadeus String Quartet (including their CD of Schubert Quintet on DGG), Fine Arts Quartet, Bruno Giuranna, Massimo Quarta, Leonidas Kavakos and Krystian Zimerman and his regular duo partnership with pianist Heini Karkkainen. He also directs the chamber music festival Charleston Manor Festival in the south of England. In January 2012, Cohen became the cellist of the legendary Fine Arts Quartet.
His musical education was also exceptional; early studies with the legendary William Pleeth, followed by Jacqueline du Pré, André Navarra and Mistislav Rostropovich. Cohen became an inspirational teacher himself; his much published views on the art of learning, performing and communicating music have led to masterclasses worldwide. He is a Professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London and in 2009, was awarded the HonRAM.
Robert Cohen made his recording debut at age 19 with the Elgar Cello Concerto and London Philharmonic (EMI) which earned a silver disc. He has recorded extensively for BIS, EMI, Deutsche Grammophon, Sony and under long term contract to Decca.
Robert Cohen won the Suggia Prize, Young Concert Artists (New York), Piatigorsky and Unesco International competitions. He has also had several compositions written and dedicated to him. Most recently Sally Beamish Cello Concerto No. 2 ‘The Song Gatherer’.
Cohen has been the subject of many TV documentaries and has created special projects for City of London Festival Les Six – poetry, literature and film – Royal Ballet School Collaborations, Robert Cohen’s Cello Clinic (www.celloclinic.com) and Cohen Pod Talks (www.thecohenpodtalks.com). Cohen will curate a classical music channel for HiBrow. TV at the invitation of film producer Don Boyd.
The essence of Cohen as communicator is summed up by The Guardian who observed Cohen can hold and audience in the palm of his hand.
He plays the ‘Ex Roser’ cello by David Tecchler. Rome 1723.
www.robertcohen.info; www.fineartsquartet.com
