The Gold Medal winner at the 2015 XV International Tchaikovsky Competition, Andrei Ioniță is one of the most admired cellists of his generation. A versatile musician focused on deeply felt performances, Andrei is internationally recognised for his passionate musicianship and technical finesse. His playing reflects a rare blend of technical brilliance, emotional depth, and a commitment to bring new interpretations to the classical cello repertoire.
Andrei Ioniță at Tchaikovsky XV, Klengel: Scherzo in D minor, Op. 6
Career Start
Andrei Ioniță
Born on 1 January 1994 in Bucharest, Romania, Andrei started taking piano lessons at the age of 5. One day, his piano teacher suggested to his mother that the boy should try out a string instrument. After a period of contemplation, it was decided that Andrei should give the cello a go. He took his first cello lessons at the age of 8, and he never looked back. He first studied with Ani-Marie Paladi in Bucharest and subsequently with Jens Peter Maintz at the Berlin University of the Arts.
Ioniță’s career skyrocketed after winning the Tchaikovsky Competition at the age of 20. For Andrei, it was like the Olympic Games of classical music. As he explained, “I think that just after surviving that amount of pressure and going through all the rounds with such a huge repertoire, you can bear literally anything afterwards! The amount of exposure the competition got, especially last year, because of the online streaming done by Medici.tv, was probably the best thing about it, even better than winning the prize. For young artists it is vital that we get this sort of platform, that our voices are heard.”
Andrei Ioniță Plays Bach’s Suite No. 3, “Allemande”
First Recording
Winning the Tchaikovsky Competition in 2015 guaranteed a substantial number of concert invitations, and Andrei issued his first recording with RCA Red Seal in the same year. He decided to record the full cycle of the Six Cello Suites by Johann Sebastian Bach, and this album remains a highly recommended choice for those interested in an interpretation that balances a classical approach with a contemporary artistic voice. To be sure, Ioniță carefully balances the nuanced lines of Bach’s counterpoint with his modern interpretation of the melodic and harmonic structure.
Ioniță chooses thoughtful tempos throughout, frequently leaning towards the contemplative rather than to the overly virtuosic. As such, he allows the spiritual and meditative qualities to come to the forefront. Critics loved Ioniță’s emotional engagement with the music and his ability to shape phrases in a manner that gives each movement a sense of personal meaning. His impeccable technique allows him to navigate the complexity of Bach’s counterpoint, yet he never sacrifices musicality for technical display.
Andrei Ioniță at Tchaikovsky XV, Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1, Op. 107 “Allegro”
Shostakovich
Andrei Ioniță
As Ioniță explained in an interview, “Shostakovich is arguably my favourite composer. Ever since I discovered him in my early teenage years, I felt automatically connected to his passion, his sorrow, his hopeless sarcasm… besides his music is so intelligently written, you feel like every note falls into the right place.” Given such enthusiasm, it’s hardly surprising that Ioniță’s Shostakovich performances and recordings have been well-received by critics and music lovers alike.
His performance of the 1st Shostakovich Cello Concerto at the Tchaikovsky was described as an unforgettable experience, “with the cellist sustaining music of such immense intensity from the first note to the last.” That performance very quickly led to a recording of Shostakovich’s 2nd concerto with the Romanian National Radio Orchestra, conducted by Christian Mandeal. Significantly, his reading is not bombastic or overtly dramatic but focuses on carefully shaping the long and lyrical lines.
Ernő Dohnányi: Konzertstück, Op. 12 (Andrei Ioniţă, cello; Rheinland-Pfalz State Philharmonic Orchestra; Modestas Pitrėnas, cond.)
Significant Recordings
Ioniță has already compiled a significant discography, with his playing praised as “technically flawless and deeply interpretive.” His Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations (2017) were praised for its lyricism and precision, while the “Czech Cello” recording of 2018 highlights his ability to engage with the emotional depth of Central European music.
His debut album on Orchid Classics featured a Brett Dean world premiere, prompting Gramophone to declare him “a cellist of superb skill, musical imagination and a commitment to the music of our time.”
The “French Cello” recording of 2020 features works by Saint-Saëns, Fauré, and Lalo, and the highly anticipated “Chamber Music by Enesco” of 2021 is seen as a “significant contribution to bring Enescu’s music to a wider audience.” In all these performances, Ioniță’s conveys not just the notes but the emotional journey of the pieces. As such, he is offering listeners an engaging and seductive musical experience, and we look forward to many more recordings and highlights to come.
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