The (RPO) is a vanguard of classical music performance and under the direction of its new Music Director, Vasily Petrenko, is being recognized as one of the world鈥檚 most forward-thinking and boundary-pushing symphony orchestras in the world. Its 75th Anniversary program showcases a trio of 20th century gems, including Benjamin Britten鈥檚 sublime Four Sea Interludes and Rachmaninoff鈥檚 spirited Symphonic Dances. Elgar鈥檚 Cello Concerto will be played by cello virtuoso , praised by The Times as a 鈥渞emarkable cellist鈥 and described by as 鈥渟heer perfection.鈥 This stunning concert of cherished works is the perfect performance to reconnect with live, classical music.听
Soltani鈥檚 virtuosity is characterized by a depth of expression, technical mastery, and emotional connection with the audience. The Washington Post praises Soltani鈥檚 talents, stating, 鈥淗is cello sound has the fuzz and richness of caramel, and he plays with an easy warmth, drawing the orchestra after him like a halo around a candle flame.鈥澨
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Born in Bregenz, Austria to a family of Persian musicians, Soltani began playing the cello at age four and was only 12 when he joined Ivan Monighetti鈥檚 class at the Basel Music Academy. Soltani, at age 21, attracted worldwide attention in April 2013 as winner of the International Paulo Cello Competition in Helsinki where he was hailed by Ostinato Magazine as 鈥渁 soloist of the highest level among the new generation of cellists.鈥 Since then, Soltani has rapidly grown with well-deserved prestige and fame within musical communities all around the world.听
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Reaching out to his fans and fellow cello lovers, Soltani has a widespread digital presence, communicating and connecting during a time of musical cancellations and uncertainty. Active on social media, such as and , Soltani aims to share the wealth of his musical abilities. For a more in-depth look into his career and future, the Center highly recommends checking out his channel, specifically his latest video, 鈥,鈥 which answers fans鈥 questions and expands on projects of his.听
The Center invites you to join us for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring cellist Kian Soltani, on January 29. For more information, please visit our .