Biography

Sergei Istomin (violoncello, viola da gamba) has performed solo and chamber music recitals throughout Europe and North America. He regularly works with Anima Eterna Symphony Orchestra (principal cellist). He has also performed in solo and chamber music concerts with ensembles including: duos with Jos van Immerseel, Viviana Sofronitsky, Claire Chevallier – fortepiano; trio with Viviana Sofronitsky – fortepiano and Laszlo Paulik - violin; Diapente Consort; Tafelmusik; and many others prominent European ensembles. He has also performed at a wide range of festivals such as Aix-en-Provence, Alden Biesen, Beaune, Nantes, St. Riquier, Brugge, Festival van Vlaanderen, Festival de Wallonie, Leipzig Bach Festival, Lockenhaus, Schleswig-Holstein and Sopron. His repertoire includes baroque, classical, romantic and contemporary music.
Sergei Istomin started his violoncello studies at the age of six in the class of Vera Birina at the Gnesin’s School for gifted children (Moscow, Russia) where he obtained his Bachelor Degree. He completed his Master Degree at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory where he studied with Valentin Feighin. He continued his post-graduate studies in viola da gamba with Catharina Meints Caldwell at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute, Oberlin, Ohio, USA, where he also had the rare privilege to work with August Wenzinger.
Sergei Istomin has recorded for: Analekta, Canada (Virtuoso Solos for Viola da Gamba, proclaimed Best Instrumental CD for the year 2003 by the Globe and Mail, Canada; J. S. Bach Cello Suites, Best Instrumental CD for the year 1997, the Globe and Mail, Canada); Music and Arts Programs of America (C.P.E. Bach with Colin Tilney, harpsichord); Zig-Zag Territoires / Harmonia Mundi, (Franz Liszt, Pièces Tardives with Jos van Immerseel, pianoforte Erard, selection ARTE (Germany, France); event ffff - Télérama, France; selection Musicora, Switzerland). He has also recorded for CBC, Sony Classical and Suoni e Colori Labels.
His performances have been broadcast in Europe, North and South America, Australia, New-Zealand and Japan.
Now Sergei Istomin, a Russian, French and Canadian musician lives in France from where he continues his international career.