Biography
The Kazakh-German cellist and orchestra conductor Eldar Saparayev is often described as The grand virtuoso of the past eras, the true musician and the poet with vast passion and individuality (as depicted by Jacques Leiser, the manager of the greatest Svyatoslav Richter, Alfred Cortot, David Oistrakh and Maria Callas). Dmitri Sitkovetski considers Mr. Saparayev to be one of the brightest musicians from Kazakhstan who passes on the traditions of Russian and European schools with big honor.
Throughout his musical career, Eldar Saparayev performed as a soloist at many important venues across Europe, Asia, South and North Americas and collaborated with notable artists such as Dmitri Sitkovetsky, Radu Lupu, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Dimitri Ashkenazy, Lior Shambadal, Heinrich Schiff, Bobby McFerrin, Reinhard Göbel and David Geringas.
Amongst many of Eldar’s achievements, there are numerous won international competitions including the Grand Prix at the Schabyt Competition in Kazakhstan, the First Prize at the Antonio Janigro Competition in Croatia, the First Prize at the Koeckert Competition in Switzerland, the First Prize at the Alpen-Adria Competition in Italia, First Prize at the Hans Ninck Competition at the Kiwanis Competition and at the Rieter Competition in Switzerland.
Currently, Eldar Saparayev holds the position of the principal cellist at the Südwestsdeutschen Philharmonie Orchestra in Konstanz, Germany and is a member of the Philharmonishe Cellisten Köln. He is regularly invited to perform as a guest principal cellist with the New European Strings, the Bayerische Staatsoper München, the Münchener Rundfunkorchester, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bachakademie Orchester Stuttgart and the Zürich Kammerorchester.
Adding to the mentioned achievements, Eldar works as the Chief Conductor of the Euro Sinfonietta Wien, is a member of the Wilhelm Furtwängler Foundation and as Artistic Director of Chamber Music Festival in Constance, Germany. The year 2015 was also remarkable for Mr. Saparayev as he founded the Lyra Festival Orchestra in Zürich.
Additionally to his brilliant career as a cellist, Eldar Saparayev pursues his passion for orchestra conducting. Such interest was decided upon after working with distinguished conductors like Ivan Fisher, Claus Peter Flor and Sir Roger Norrington to name a few. He gained experience conducting the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Kazakhstan, Astana Opera Orchestra, the Camerata of Kazakhstan, the Gustav Mahler Young Orchestra, Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie, the North Czech Philharmonic and Euro Sinfoniette Wien.
Being born and raised in Kazakhstan in an artistic family, Mr. Saparayev was constantly exposed to classical music and performing arts since his early childhood. He received his first cello lessons from his father Zaur Saparayev, who was a well-known virtuoso cellist. In 1987, Eldar entered the Baiseitova State Special Music School for Gifted Children in Almaty, and studied with Onal Abdykhanova and Evgeni Lutzenko. In 1998, he continued his education at the Kazakh National Academy of Music under the guidance of his father.
In year 2000, Eldar was accepted to the class of Professor Susanne Basler at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Zürich and received his Master of Arts in Concert Performance with Distinction in 2004. It was during his student years that Eldar’s talent caught the attention of Bernhard Greenhouse, who provided the young artist with invaluable support and guidance. After Eldar’s graduation in Zurich he received the privilege to spend an exchange year at the Hanns Eisler Hochschule für Musik in Berlin under the guidance of David Geringas. Upon completion of the exchange year, Eldar returned to Zurich to complete his second Master of Arts Degree in Solo Performance in the year 2005. Eldar Saparayev earned the Masters of Arts Degree in Conducting at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana under Marc Kissoczy in 2016.
The vast amount of achievements together with hard work and the complete immersion in what Eldar does is what makes him to be an outstanding musician and conductor.
Throughout his musical career, Eldar Saparayev performed as a soloist at many important venues across Europe, Asia, South and North Americas and collaborated with notable artists such as Dmitri Sitkovetsky, Radu Lupu, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Dimitri Ashkenazy, Lior Shambadal, Heinrich Schiff, Bobby McFerrin, Reinhard Göbel and David Geringas.
Amongst many of Eldar’s achievements, there are numerous won international competitions including the Grand Prix at the Schabyt Competition in Kazakhstan, the First Prize at the Antonio Janigro Competition in Croatia, the First Prize at the Koeckert Competition in Switzerland, the First Prize at the Alpen-Adria Competition in Italia, First Prize at the Hans Ninck Competition at the Kiwanis Competition and at the Rieter Competition in Switzerland.
Currently, Eldar Saparayev holds the position of the principal cellist at the Südwestsdeutschen Philharmonie Orchestra in Konstanz, Germany and is a member of the Philharmonishe Cellisten Köln. He is regularly invited to perform as a guest principal cellist with the New European Strings, the Bayerische Staatsoper München, the Münchener Rundfunkorchester, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bachakademie Orchester Stuttgart and the Zürich Kammerorchester.
Adding to the mentioned achievements, Eldar works as the Chief Conductor of the Euro Sinfonietta Wien, is a member of the Wilhelm Furtwängler Foundation and as Artistic Director of Chamber Music Festival in Constance, Germany. The year 2015 was also remarkable for Mr. Saparayev as he founded the Lyra Festival Orchestra in Zürich.
Additionally to his brilliant career as a cellist, Eldar Saparayev pursues his passion for orchestra conducting. Such interest was decided upon after working with distinguished conductors like Ivan Fisher, Claus Peter Flor and Sir Roger Norrington to name a few. He gained experience conducting the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Kazakhstan, Astana Opera Orchestra, the Camerata of Kazakhstan, the Gustav Mahler Young Orchestra, Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie, the North Czech Philharmonic and Euro Sinfoniette Wien.
Being born and raised in Kazakhstan in an artistic family, Mr. Saparayev was constantly exposed to classical music and performing arts since his early childhood. He received his first cello lessons from his father Zaur Saparayev, who was a well-known virtuoso cellist. In 1987, Eldar entered the Baiseitova State Special Music School for Gifted Children in Almaty, and studied with Onal Abdykhanova and Evgeni Lutzenko. In 1998, he continued his education at the Kazakh National Academy of Music under the guidance of his father.
In year 2000, Eldar was accepted to the class of Professor Susanne Basler at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Zürich and received his Master of Arts in Concert Performance with Distinction in 2004. It was during his student years that Eldar’s talent caught the attention of Bernhard Greenhouse, who provided the young artist with invaluable support and guidance. After Eldar’s graduation in Zurich he received the privilege to spend an exchange year at the Hanns Eisler Hochschule für Musik in Berlin under the guidance of David Geringas. Upon completion of the exchange year, Eldar returned to Zurich to complete his second Master of Arts Degree in Solo Performance in the year 2005. Eldar Saparayev earned the Masters of Arts Degree in Conducting at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana under Marc Kissoczy in 2016.
The vast amount of achievements together with hard work and the complete immersion in what Eldar does is what makes him to be an outstanding musician and conductor.