Skip to content
    skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    Listen

    On Air Now

    Smooth Classics with Myleene Klass 10pm - 1am

    Smooth Classics with Myleene Klass

    Now Playing

    Bucolic Suite (2) Ralph Vaughan Williams Download 'Bucolic Suite (2)' on iTunes

    Bucolic Suite (2) artwork
    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Lifestyle
    • Win
    • Charity
    • Podcasts
    • Events
    • Dating
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Classic FM on Twitter
      Follow Classic FM on Facebook
      Follow Classic FM on Instagram
      Follow Classic FM on Youtube

    Artists

    Mischa Maisky

    Biography

    Biography

    Latvian Mischa Maisky is one of the world's leading cellists and most in-demand soloists.

    Born in 1948 in Latvia, Maisky received his first music lessons at the Riga Children’s Music School and Conservatory.

    Maisky continued his studies at the Leningrad Conservatory and later with the legendary cellist Mstislav Rostropovich at the Moscow Conservatory.

    Maisky's debut at 17 with the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra earned him the nickname "Rostropovich of the future".

    Rostropovich lauded Maisky as "... one of the most outstanding talents of the younger generation of cellists. His playing combines poetry and exquisite delicacy with great temperament and brilliant technique."

    After being imprisoned in a labour camp near Gorky for 18 months in 1970, Maisky emigrated to Israel where he holds citizenship. He currently lives in Belgium.

    After a 1973 Carnegie Hall concert, an anonymous admirer gave him an 18th-century Montagnana cello on which he still performs today.

    In his performing and recording career, Maisky has worked in long-standing partnerships with great artists such as the pianist Martha Argerich, the violinists Gidon Kremer and Janine Jansen, and the conductors Leonard Bernstein, Zubin Mehta, Vladimir Ashkenaz and Daniel Barenboim.

    In 1995, Maisky returned to Moscow for the first time in 23 years to give a concert and to record works by Prokofiev with Mikhail Pletnev and the Russian National Orchestra.

    In 2000, Maisky performed a “Bach Marathon” in Zurich playing all of Bach’s works for cello in three concerts on one day.

    Did you know?

    Maisky's daughter Lily is embarking on a career as a concert pianist. His son Sascha is a concert violinist. They have performed piano trios in public with their father.

    View more

    Latest on Classic FM

    What classical music is in Spielberg’s ‘The Fabelmans’?

    What classical music is in Spielberg’s ‘The Fabelmans’, and does Michelle Williams really play the piano?

    Williams

    Best piano works

    The 16 best pieces EVER written for piano

    Discover Music

    15 most famous opera songs and arias

    15 most famous opera songs and arias

    Discover Music

    A smaller, but still immense, 5,000 strong choir in Japan sing Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’

    Listen to this 10,000-strong Japanese megachoir sing Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’

    Beethoven

    The traditional ‘piping in of the haggis’

    The haggis gets its own entrance music on Burns Night – here’s what it sounds like

    Discover Music

    9-year-old violinist Sora Lavorgna plays Richter's 'Summer 1' in finals of 'Prodiges'

    9-year-old violin prodigy plays Max Richter’s thrilling take on Vivaldi ‘Summer’ in talent show finale

    Discover Music

    Kelvin Harrison Jr. stars as Joseph Boulogne in 'Chevalier' (2023)

    ‘Chevalier’ film: plot, release date, cast and all details about the Joseph Boulogne biopic

    Classic FM Live at the Royal Albert Hall in October 2022

    Classic FM Live 2023 at the Royal Albert Hall: get your tickets to enjoy opera’s greatest hits!

    Events

    Martha Argerich Performs With The Youth Orchestra de Bahia in 2018

    Pianist Martha Argerich cancels performances due to heart-related health condition

    Martha Argerich

    John Williams makes history as oldest person to be nominated for an Academy Award

    John Williams makes history as oldest person to be nominated for an Academy Award

    More artists

    See more More artists

    Nicola Benedetti

    Lang Lang

    Luciano Pavarotti

    André Rieu

    Back to top

    Also on Classic FM

    • Listen to Global Player
    • Alexander Armstrong on Classic FM
    • Google Doodle
    • Quizzes
    • Mozart
    • Debussy
    • Music theory
    • Instruments
    • Classic FM Live
    • Brahms
    • Vivaldi
    • Bach
    • LBC News
    • Tchaikovsky
    • Chopin
    • Andrea Bocelli
    • Florence Price
    • Beethoven
    • Best classical music
    • Classic FM Requests
    • Best pianists
    • Harry Potter music
    • Saturday Night at the Movies
    • Star Wars soundtrack
    • Composer or pasta
    • Music for Studying
    • Best violinists
    • Classical music tearjerkers
    • Relaxing classical

    Useful Links

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • About Classic FM
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise
    • Global Jobs

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Classic FM on Twitter
    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube
    © Global 2023
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager