Top 10 Famous Cello Players of All Time

Thought of learning cello? Well before you step into the world of how to play cello, you should take inspiration from some famous cello players who are known for their excellent talent, compositions, and emotive expression in their playing. Their dedication to their art has inspired many artists worldwide.

Through their triumphs and trials, we will explore the narratives of luminaries such as Pablo Casals, Jacqueline du Pré, Yo-Yo Ma, and many more. Stay tuned as we uncover the journeys of these top 10 famous cello players who have made their mark at the end of time.

10 Famous Cello Players

1. Yo-Yo Ma

Date of birth: October 7, 1955, Paris, France

Awards:

• 19 Grammy Awards
• Presidential Medal of Freedom (2011)
• Asia Game Changer Award (2020)

Best works:

• Sarabande from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor at the World Trade Center (2002)
• Bach Complete Cello Suites at Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Chicago (2019)
• Taylor’s album “Before This World” with James Taylor (2015)

Yo-Yo Ma is an American cellist known to create a unique style of classical music by merging various musical styles. Thus, he has recorded over 92 albums and received 19 Grammy Awards. He is also a founding member of the Committee of 100.

Not only has Ma recorded the usual classical repertoire but a vast array of folk music, including bluegrass, traditional Chinese melodies, Brazilian music, and the tangos of Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla.

Furthermore, Ma has collaborated and performed with various artists, such as James Taylor and Miley Cyrus, and recorded for numerous films, including Once Upon a Time in America, The Mission, and The Untouchables.

Through these collaborations, Ma has showcased his versatility and ability to rise to the top spot among the famous cello players.

2. Jacqueline du Pré

Date of birth: January 26, 1945, Oxfordshire

Date of death: October 19, 1987, London

Awards:

• Best Classical Soloist Album at the 1977 BRIT Awards
• Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society

Best works:

• Jacqueline du Pré and the Elgar Cello Concerto
• Brahms’ Second Cello Sonata at the Edinburgh Festival (1962)

Jacqueline du Pré was a British cellist whose extraordinary talent and playing technique made her one of the world’s most famous cello players of the 20th century.

Her performance of Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E Minor at the age of 17 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent, catapulted her to fame. This concerto became closely associated with her throughout her career.

Du Pré performed with major orchestras and conductors around the world, including the New Philharmonia Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, gaining a reputation for her deep musicality and emotional intensity.

Unfortunately, due to illness, she had to retire from performing at the peak of her career in 1973, which was a significant loss to the music world.

However, she is remembered through various biographies, a film adaptation of her life titled “Hilary and Jackie,” and the continued admiration of her artistry in the classical music community.

3. Mstislav Rostropovich

Date of birth: March 27, 1927, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union

Date of death: April 27, 2007, Moscow, Russia

Awards:

• Prince of Asturias Award (1997)
• Grammy Award (1984)
• Gold Medal of the Royal Philharmonic Society (1970)

Best works:

• Britten Cello Suites Nos 1 & 2
• Brahms Cello Sonatas
• Beethoven Cello Sonatas

Mstislav Rostropovich was a Russian pianist, cellist, and conductor. His exceptional technique, passionate playing, and profound musical interpretations left a lasting legacy in the classical music world.

Rostropovich released nearly 200 musical pieces, inspiring other artists with his work. He premiered numerous works by prominent composers like Shostakovich, Sergei Prokofiev, and Benjamin Britten, many of whom wrote pieces specifically for him.

His virtuosic performances and charismatic stage presence quickly gained international recognition. His interpretations of works by Bach, Dvořák, and Shostakovich are particularly celebrated.

4. Pablo Casals

Date of birth: December 29, 1876, Tarragona, Spain

Date of death: October 22, 1973, Puerto Rico

Awards:

• Charles E. Lutton Man of Music Award (1973)
• Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award – Posthumously (1989)

Best works:

• Trio No. 1 in B-flat Major, Op. 99: II. Andante un poco mosso
• Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prelude
• Double Concerto in A Minor, Op. 102: I. Allegro
• Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85: II. Adagio

Pau Casals i Defilló, also known as Pablo Casals, is one of the most famous cello players of all time. He was a Spanish cellist, conductor, composer, and humanist. His contributions to the cello repertoire, expressive playing, and humanitarian efforts have left a lasting legacy.

Casals gained recognition as a virtuoso cellist in the late 19th century, performing across Europe. His 1899 performance in Paris as a soloist at Lamoureux Concerts marked a significant breakthrough.

Casals’ recordings, particularly of Bach’s Cello Suites, are considered definitive. His advocacy for and recordings of these works in the early 20th century made them prominent, establishing them as central pieces in the cello repertoire.

A passionate advocate for peace and democracy, Casals was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

5. Gregor Piatigorsky

Date of birth: April 17, 1903, Ukraine

Date of death: August 6, 1976, California, US

Awards: 3 Grammy Awards for Best Chamber Music Performance

Best works:

• Mozart: Quintet K. 515/Mendelssohn: Trio No. 2 In C Minor (Album)
• The Heifetz – Piatigorsky Concerts
• Beethoven: Trio No. 1 In E Flat, Op. 1 #1

Gregor Piatigorsky was a Russian cellist and is considered one of the most famous cello players of the 20th century. He is celebrated for his exceptional technique, expressive playing, and significant contributions to the world of classical music.

Piatigorsky’s contributions to the cello repertoire were significant. He premiered several important works for the cello, including compositions by composers such as Paul Hindemith, Sergei Prokofiev, and Igor Stravinsky. His collaborations with renowned musicians, including Artur Rubinstein and Jascha Heifetz, further solidified his reputation.

In 1965, Piatigorsky published his autobiography, “Cellist,” providing a deep insight into his life and career.

Piatigorsky left behind a lasting legacy as one of the most influential cellists of the 20th century.

6. Steven Isserlis

Date of birth: December 19, 1958, London, England

Awards:

• Gramophone Awards for Contemporary Album of the Year (1992)
• Classical BRIT Awards (2008)

Best works:

• Bach’s Cello Suites for Hyperion
• Beethoven’s complete works for cello and piano with Robert Levin
• Elgar and Walton concertos with the Philharmonia Orchestra/Paavo Jarv

Steven Isserlis is a world-famous cellist, conductor, educator, writer, and broadcaster. He comes from a family of renowned musical artists and has established himself as one of the most famous cello players of all time.

Isserlis is also known for his interpretations of works by composers such as Bach, Schumann, and Elgar. During his tenure, he collaborated with many composers and musicians, including John Tavener, Lowell Liebermann, Carl Vine, David Matthews, and John Woolrich.

Furthermore, Isserlis has performed with leading orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic.

In addition to his work, Isserlis is an accomplished writer. He authored “Why Beethoven Threw the Stew” (Faber, 2001) and “Why Handel Waggled His Wig” (Faber, 2006), both published by Faber.

7. Mischa Maisky

Date of birth: January 10, 1948, Latvian SSR, USSR

Awards:

• Echo Deutscher Schallplattenpreis Award
• Paris Grand Prix du Disque

Best works:

• Elgar Cello Concerto Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations
• Tchaikovsky. Rachmaninov Piano Trios
• Bach Cello Suites

Mischa Maisky, born Mihail Leopoldovich Majskij, is a Soviet-born Israeli cellist known for his passionate performances, distinctive sound, and extensive recording career. He is the only cellist taught by Mstislav Rostropovich and studied with Gregor Piatigorsky.

Maisky’s career took off in the 1960s after he won the prestigious International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1966. He has performed with major orchestras, such as the Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, and London Symphony Orchestra. His interpretations of works by Bach, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky are particularly celebrated.

Furthermore, he gained international acclaim, performing with leading artists playing various instruments, including the pianist Martha Argerich, the violinist Gidon Kremer, Leonard Bernstein, Zubin Mehta, and many more.

8. Truls Mørk

Date of birth: April 25, 1961, Bergen, Norway

Awards:

• Grammy Award (2001)
• Tchaikovsky Award (1982)
• Gramophone Award (1897)

Best works:

• Dvorak’s Cello Concerto (Mariss Jansons/​Oslo Philharmonic)
• Britten’s Cello Symphony and Elgar’s Concerto (Sir Simon Rattle/​CBSO)
• Miaskovsky’s Concerto and Prokofiev’s Sinfonia Concertante (Paavo Järvi/CBSO)

Truls Olaf Otterbech Mørk is a world-famous Norwegian cellist. His compelling performances combine fierce intensity, integrity, and grace, establishing him as one of the pre-eminent cellists of our time.

Inspired by Mstislav Rostropovich and the Russian school of cello playing, he studied with the renowned Russian cellist Natalia Shakhovskaya.

He performed as a soloist with leading orchestras, including the Oslo Philharmonic, the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the London Symphony, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

An interesting fact about Mørk is that for more than 30 years, he performed on a rare Domenico Montagnana cello (Venice, 1723), whose scroll was made by Stradivarius.

Today, Mørk holds a professorship at the Norwegian Academy of Music, where he continues to inspire and influence the upcoming generations in Music.

9. Gautier Capuçon

Date of birth: September 3, 1981, Chambéry, France

Awards:

• Echo Klassik Award (2004)
• Victoires de la Musique Classique (2001)

Best works:

• Song to the Moon” Antonín Dvořák’s opera “Rusalka
• Saint-Saëns’s “The Swan” at the Verbier Festival with Kim Bernard

Gautier Capuçon is a French cellist renowned for his exceptional talent and role as an ambassador for 21st-century cello music.

As a student, he played with prestigious orchestras such as the European Community Youth Orchestra and the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, performing under conductors like Bernard Haitink, Pierre Boulez, and Claudio Abbado.

Capuçon’s expressive musicianship, exuberant virtuosity, and the deep sonority of his 1701 Matteo Goffriller cello (affectionately known as ‘L’Ambassadeur’) have garnered acclaim. Furthermore, he collaborated with contemporary composers, including Lera Auerbach, Karol Beffa, and Esteban Benzecry.

In addition to his works, he founded the ‘Classe d’Excellence de Violoncelle’ at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. He recorded Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1, further solidifying his reputation as an outstanding cellist.

10. Anner Bylsma

Date of birth: February 17, 1934, The Hague

Date of death: July 25, 2019, Amsterdam

Awards: Prix d’excellence (1957)

Best works:

• Cello suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: I
• J.S.Bach Cello Suite No.6

Anner Bylsma was a Dutch cellist, conductor, and one of the most famous cello players of all time. Bylsma is renowned for his exceptional contributions to modern and period instrument performances in a historically informed style.

Bylsma was a pioneer in the baroque cello movement. In 1979, he recorded J. S. Bach’s six suites for unaccompanied cello (BWV 1007–1012)—a groundbreaking achievement on a period instrument. Later, he recreated the same music in 1992, playing it on the large Servais Stradivarius and a five-string violoncello piccolo.

Furthermore, he authored “Bach,” the “Fencing Master,” an aesthetic analysis of Bach’s cello suites that has influenced musicians. His legacy endures as a towering figure in the world of baroque cello performance.