Vladimir Waltham – Cello

Berlin-based French-born multi-faceted musician Vladimir Waltham is equally at home on Cello, Baroque Cello, and all sizes of da Gamba instruments. Praised for his “luminous tone” by Gramophone, Vladimir is passionate about sharing the broadest possible musical palette, in repertoire spanning from the Middle Ages to collaborations with composers and world premieres as well as everything in between.

Vladimir divides his time between his Linos Piano Trio, his work as principal cello of La Serenissima, and his freelance performing and recording activities. 2022-23 sees him returning to London’s Wigmore Hall and Helsinki’s Musiikkitalo, as well as appearing in solo and chamber recitals and as a concerto soloist in many other venues and festivals from France to Thailand, via Germany, Poland, Greece and the UK.

Vladimir’s various recorded offerings have been well received by the press. The Linos Piano Trio’s latest published recording of orchestral arrangements, Stolen Music, received the chamber music award of the German critic’s Prize (Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik); described as “exhilarating” and “inspiring” (Das Orchester), “superbly characterised” and “compelling” (***** BBC Music Magazine), Vladimir’s “soulful and atmospheric” playing was singled out by the American Record Guide, and the album was recommended in these terms by The Strad’s Charlotte Gardner: “I’ll cut right to the chase and say that this is among the most imaginative, inventive and gloriously surprising chamber releases I’ve heard in recent times […] It’s all compelling, dramatic, fascinating and unfailingly musical. What a ride.” Another review singled out Vladimir’s contribution to La Serenissima’s CD Vivaldi x2 in glowing terms: “[a] soloist to whom I could listen all day, cellist Vladimir Waltham; hear his gently grainy, luminous tone and his sighing trills, and fall in love.” (Gramophone)

After his initial studies in France, Vladimir moved to the UK at the age of 16 to study first at the Yehudi Menuhin School, then at the Guildhall. In 2012, he was selected by the Jumpstart foundation to receive the loan of a beautiful baroque cello by Nicola Gagliano, 2015 saw him take First Prize and the Audience Prize with his Linos Piano Trio at the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition, and in 2016 he was awarded Third Prize at the International Bach Competition Leipzig on baroque cello.

When not busy traveling and performing, you can find Vladimir at home enjoying his love of cooking and of coffee, or taking his family on a hike in the mountains. www.vladimirwaltham.com