Stefan Popov
Encyclopedia
Stefan Popov is a cellist who holds both Bulgarian and British nationality. He started to learn the cello
at the age of 12 and, having won a scholarship, continued his training at the Moscow Conservatory
where he studied under Sviatoslav Knushevitsky
and Mstislav Rostropovich
from 1961 to 1966. He became a prize-winner in many competitions, including Geneva, Florence and Vienna. In 1966, as a finalist he won a medal in the International Tchaikovsky Competition
for Cello. At the same time as the Tchaikovsky competition, he was also awarded a prize from the Union of Soviet Composers for his performance of Russian music.
From 1971 to 1975 he taught at Boston University
and New England Conservatory. From 1977 to date, he has lived in the United Kingdom, where he has been a professor of cello at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
in London. He performs regularly and leads cello masterclasses at music festivals and in state conservatoires throughout the world.
He has had performances broadcast on radio and television, as well as having recorded numerous CDs. In 2006 he recorded and transcribed for cello Beethoven's violin concerto, to coincide with the 200 year anniversary of its first performance. He stated that he did this also in part "to compensate for the fact no Beethoven cello concerto was ever written" and to commemorate what is generally regarded as one of the greatest concertos for any instrument.
In 2008 he was awarded the "Chevalier du violoncelle" title at the Eva Janzer Memorial Cello Center for his contribution to the cause of cello playing.
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
at the age of 12 and, having won a scholarship, continued his training at the Moscow Conservatory
Moscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
where he studied under Sviatoslav Knushevitsky
Sviatoslav Knushevitsky
Sviatoslav Nikolayevich Knushevitsky was a Russian classical cellist. He was particularly noted for his partnership with the violinist David Oistrakh and the pianist Lev Oborin in a renowned piano trio from 1940 until his death...
and Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich, KBE , known to close friends as Slava, was a Soviet and Russian cellist and conductor. He was married to the soprano Galina Vishnevskaya. He is widely considered to have been the greatest cellist of the second half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest of...
from 1961 to 1966. He became a prize-winner in many competitions, including Geneva, Florence and Vienna. In 1966, as a finalist he won a medal in the International Tchaikovsky Competition
International Tchaikovsky Competition
The International Tchaikovsky Competition is a classical music competition held every four years in Moscow, Russia for pianists, violinists, and cellists between 16 and 30 years of age, and singers between 19 and 32 years of age...
for Cello. At the same time as the Tchaikovsky competition, he was also awarded a prize from the Union of Soviet Composers for his performance of Russian music.
From 1971 to 1975 he taught at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
and New England Conservatory. From 1977 to date, he has lived in the United Kingdom, where he has been a professor of cello at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
in London. He performs regularly and leads cello masterclasses at music festivals and in state conservatoires throughout the world.
He has had performances broadcast on radio and television, as well as having recorded numerous CDs. In 2006 he recorded and transcribed for cello Beethoven's violin concerto, to coincide with the 200 year anniversary of its first performance. He stated that he did this also in part "to compensate for the fact no Beethoven cello concerto was ever written" and to commemorate what is generally regarded as one of the greatest concertos for any instrument.
In 2008 he was awarded the "Chevalier du violoncelle" title at the Eva Janzer Memorial Cello Center for his contribution to the cause of cello playing.