Photo: Juventino Mateo
Biography
New worlds of imagination appear whenever Kian Soltani makes music. A sense of individuality, depth of expression and charismatic presence are among the elements of the young Austrian cellist’s captivating artistry. Rave reviews and invitations to perform at the world’s leading concert halls have propelled the 25-year-old musician into one of the most exciting musicians of this generation.
Kian Soltani made his international breakthrough with acclaimed debuts in the Vienna Musikverein’s Goldener Saal and at the Hohenems Schubertiade. He attracted further attention in 2013 as winner of the International Paulo Cello Competition. In December 2017, Kian Soltani was awarded the prestigious Credit Suisse Young Artist Award and as part of the Lucerne Festival 2018 performs in concert with the Vienna Philharmonic.
Highlights of the 2017/18 season include performances at the Philharmonie de Paris, Royal Festival Hall London and the Boulez Saal Berlin as well as appearances at the Salzburg, Verbier and Aix-en-Provence Easter Festivals. Kian Soltani was the soloist with the West Eastern Divan Orchestra and Barenboim, performing Strauss’ Don Quixote on a worldwide tour throughout 2017. His debut Deutsche Grammophon album, entitled Home, comprising works by Schubert, Schumann and Reza Vali was released in February 2018.
Kian Soltani was born in Bregenz in 1992 to a family of Persian musicians. He began playing ‘cello at age four and was only twelve when he joined Ivan Monighetti’s class at the Basel Music Academy. He was chosen as an Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation scholarship holder in 2014, and completed his further studies at Germany’s Kronberg Academy.
Performance dates
25/11/2018
Müpa Budapest
27/11/2018
BOZAR Brussels
28/11/2018
Festspielhaus Baden-Baden
15/12/2018
Cité de la musique – Philharmonie de Paris
13/01/2019
Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
15/01/2019
Wiener Konzerthaus
16/01/2019
Philharmonie Luxembourg
03/02/2019
Konserthuset Stockholm
05/02/2019
Town Hall & Symphony Hall Birmingham
13/02/2019
Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam
20/03/2019
L’Auditori Barcelona
30/03/2019
Konzerthaus Dortmund
12/04/2019
Barbican Centre London
14/04/2019
Kölner Philharmonie
19/05/2018
Casa da Música Porto
