Robert Cohen

British cellist Robert Cohen is firmly established as one of the world's leading soloists and is recognised as one of the most inspiring musical personalities on the platform today. His career takes him worldwide, performing with conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Mariss Jansons, Kurt Masur, Riccardo Muti, Tadaaki Otaka and Sir Simon Rattle, holding, as ‘The Guardian’ observed, audiences “in the palm of his hand”.

Robert Cohen made his concerto debut at London’s Royal Festival Hall at the age of 12. His prodigy was nurtured by the great pedagogue William Pleeth and he took part in classes with Jacqueline du Pré, André Navarra and Mstislav Rostropovich. At the age of 19, after winning several major international competitions, Cohen made his recording debut, Elgar’s cello concerto with Norman Del Mar and the London Philharmonic. Outstandingly acclaimed, he received several awards and a silver disc, following sales of a quarter of a million records in the UK alone. Subsequently Cohen has consolidated an impressive discography on EMI, Collins, Deutsche Grammophon (Schubert’s String Quintet with the Amadeus Quartet), BIS and Decca, ranging from the Bach Solo Suites through to ‘River’, the cello concerto by Sally Beamish written especially for Cohen and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields - a performance of which was recently screened on BBC television.

Robert Cohen performs as director/soloist with many leading chamber orchestras and is increasingly in demand as a conductor of symphonic repertoire. He is also an inspiration to young musicians and youth orchestras as a conductor and teacher. Cohen’s passionate and articulate views on the art of learning, performing and communicating music, have been presented in many music publications and books. His masterclasses are a source of fascination for musicians and non-musicians alike and since 1999, he has been a Visiting Professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Robert Cohen is also Professor of Advanced Cello at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano.

Deemed to have “a significant influence on British life", The Times recently highlighted Robert Cohen as one of the “High Flyers” newly entered into the prestigious Who’s Who.

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