Denis Shapovalov

Cello

Denis Shapovalov

Cellist, Conductor & Composer

“Brilliant talent! He can be proud of his gift before all the world.” – with these words Shapovalov was characterized by famous Mstislav Rostropovich.

Shapovalov won recognition for his exceptional musical gift at the XI International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1998, taking the 1st prize as the unanimous choice of the jury.

Maestro Rostropovich distinguished Shapovalov among all Russian cellists and invited him to perform together with different orchestras in Russia, Azerbaijan, France, Great Britain and USA. Shapovalov has performed in the concert series celebrating Rostropovich’s 75th jubilee in London and New York along with Maxim Vengerov, Evgeny Kissin, Marta Argerich.

“That is what we call “God’s Gift”. Musical Revue, Russia

For his American debut, he gave a successful performance at the World Cello Congress in Baltimore in 2000. The cellist has participated in numerous international festivals in Russia, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, USA, Japan, and China. In addition, Shapovalov collaborates with Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the St-Petersburg Philharmony, “Moscow Virtuosi”, “Moscow Soloists”, the Bayerische Rundfunk Orchestra, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, Busan Philharmonic Orchestra, Macao Symphony Orchestra.

Shapovalov has performed under Lorin Maazel, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Vladimir Fedosseev, Gianadrea Noseda, Yutaka Sado, Andrew Litton, Vladimir Spivakov, Yuri Bashmet, Gintaras Rinkevicius, Thomas Sanderling, Lju Jia, Conrad van Alphen, Lee Reynolds. Enjoyed chamber music with Rodion Schedrin, Vadim Repin, Nikolai Znaider, Sergey Babayan, Andreas Mustonen.

Shapovalov’s performances are held in the world’s major concert halls – Bolshoi Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Royal Festival Hall and Barbican Center, Munchner Philharmonic, Megaron Concert Hall, Auditorio Nacional de Musica и Palacio de Congresos in Madrid, UNESCO Conference Hall in Paris, Vaduzerzaal, Avery Fisher Hall, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan and Suntory Hall, Beijing Concert Hall. 2019 was highlighted with debuts in Tonhalle Maag in Zurich, Palau di Musica in Valencia, Zarjadje Hall in Moscow and Musikverein in Vienna.

“Shapovalov’s performance does reveal his youthful enthusiasm and aggressive musicianship”. News Journal, USA

Shapovalov has appeared in several radio and televised concert broadcasts recorded by Russian State TV/Radio company “Culture”, Bayerische Rundfunk, Radio France, NY Public Radio, Bayern Klassik, Das Erste ARD, Mezzo, NHK. Recorded several CDs, including “Great Cello Concerto” with Chamber orchestra “Moscow Virtuosi”.

Since 2006, after studying conducting at the Moscow State Conservatory, Shapovalov started his career as a conductor. For recent seasons Shapovalov has performed as a conductor with symphony orchestras all over Russia, including State Symphony Orchestra “Novaya Rossiya” (conductor Yuri Bashmet), has given numerous concerts in Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Belorussia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kossovo, Bolivia and others.

2007 was highlighted with two unusual events for a classical artist – the premiere of the multi- media show based on Shapovalov’s own compositions won great success at the Moscow Biennale of contemporary performing Arts. In April 2007 Shapovalov was invited to join the Arctic expedition and became a first classical musician, who gave solo concert at the North Pole. In 2012 Shapovalov became an artistic director of the key project of the III Rostropovich International Festival “Cello Parade”: at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall Shapovalov led over 60 cellists on the stage from 8 leading Russian orchestras.

Shapovalov started the career as a composer with a premiere of “Concerto di Bravura” for cello and strings held at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory in 2016.

Next year was highlighted with two European premieres: “Italian Suite” for cello solo was performed at ArtDialog Festival in Switzerland. Krakow Proms Festival commissioned a piece for electric cello and symphony orchestra – “Rock-variations on a Rococo theme by Tchaikovsky“ won great success in Krakow Opera House.

Fantasia-Concerto “Rencontres Musicales” for cello and symphony orchestra dedicated to Mstislav Rostropovich was unveiled in 2018 and heartily appreciated at the historical stage of Rostropovich Philharmony in Nizhny Novgorod.

“Shapovalov found his own musical language distinguished by vivid imagery and theatricality.” Musicum, Russia

During the season 2019/20 Shapovalov premiered and conducted his new exclusive composition – “Symphony in Rock style” at four Russian festivals everywhere getting high audience and critical acclaim. Has presented his Vocal cycle “Christmas star” for cello with chamber choir to the poems of Russian poets, as well as two cross-over projects “Tribute to Pink Floyd” with symphony orchestra, and “We will folk you!” with Russian folk orchestra.

In February 2020 along with Tchaikovsky “Variations on a Rococo theme” Shapovalov performed his “Rock-variations on a Rococo theme” at the legendary Saint-Petersburg Philharmony Hall with Saint-Petersburg Academic Symphony Orchestra. The performance was broadcasted online and was watched by an audience of 500k people.

In November 2020 Shapovalov made a transcription of his Symphony in Rock style for winds commissioned by Kaunas Wind Orchestra, the premiere will take place in Lithuania in December 2020.

After finishing the post-graduate course of the Moscow State Conservatory, (class of Natalia Shakhovskaya), at the age of 26 Shapovalov became the youngest cello professor at his Alma Mater, where he worked for 11 years (2001-2012). He was regularly invited to give master- classes in Russia and abroad as a touring professor and in 2014 Shapovalov initiated his own teaching project “Cello Travel International Academy”. Since that he has given numerous master-classes in Russia, Europe and South America. During lockdown in May-June 2020, Shapovalov launched the online series “Lessons with the Master”, bringing together students and spectators from all over Russia, as well as Europe, USA and China.

View the cello course of Denis Shapovalov