Cellist Denis Shapovalov

"Calligraphy is ancient sacrament and wisdom, the starting point for world cognition. Calligraphy is akin to music: simple signs like letters and notes fill a blank sheet of paper with harmony, philosophy and beauty. These arts can be mastered by the elite but clear for the general public.

The aims and ideas of Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Centre and the exhibition of calligraphy are as usual beautiful and noble. The Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Centre team is a brotherhood of energetic and talented people! Go ahead, my friends!

“Splendid talent!” said Mstislav Rostropovich about the young musician. Denis Shapovalov stands out from the rest of the talented cellists due to his exquisite romanticism, delicate technique and passionate interpretation of the music he plays.
Denis Shapovalov was born in 1974 in the town of Tchaikovsky. He played his first concert at age 11. In 1995 at an international contest in Australia he was awarded with the special prize “Best Hope”. In 1997 he won the M. Rostropovich’s Fund scholarship.

In 1998 Denis won the 11th Tchaikovsky International Contest and was awarded with the First Prize and Golden Medal.

In 2000 Shapovalov finished his postgraduate studies with Professor, People’s Artist N. Shakhovskaya at the Moscow State Conservatory and since 2001 he has taught at the Department of Cello of the Moscow State Conservatory.

Shapovalov has successfully performed at international festivals in Germany, Italy, France (MIDEM, M. Rostropovich’s Festival), Japan, and China.

In 2000 he participated at the International Cellist Congress in the USA. In 2001 Denis became the winner of a Virtual Musical Contest (New York, USA). In 2002 he together with the London Symphony Orchestra took part in the worldwide celebration of M. Rostropovich’s 75th anniversary in England and the USA. In 2003, Melodia Records released his album 'Cello Masterpieces'. In 2005 he was awarded a prize from the Russian Performing Arts Fund.

The young musician cooperates with the prominent musical teams:
Tchaikovsky Grand Symphony Orchestra; State Academic Symphony Orchestra; Virtuosos of Moscow; Soloists of Moscow; St. Petersburg Philharmonic Academic Symphony Orchestra; London Symphony Orchestra; Bayerische Rundfunk Orhester; Tokio Metropolitan Orchestra, Yomiuri Symphony Orchestra (Japan), Baltimore Chamber Orchestra (USA), Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra; Bratislava Symphony Orchestra; Lithuanian Symphony and Chamber Orchestras. He performs with the famous conductors: M. Rostropovich, V. Spivakov, V. Fedoseev, Yu. Bashmet, V. Polyansky, V. Ziva, L. Maazel, Yu.-P. Saraste, J. Levi, T. Sanderling, Yu. Sado, E. Litton, D.-A. Nozeda, D. Liss, B. Davydov, D. Gallant, and performs together with R. Shchedrin, V. Repin, N. Tsnaider, A. Lubimov, G. Mourzha, A. Dourseneva, A. Ghindin and D. Nakamatsu.

Denis gives concerts at the world’s best concert halls: Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, Royal Festival Hall, Barbican Center (London), Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Munchner Philharmonic (Munich), UNESCO Conference Hall (Paris), Vaduzerzaal (Lichtenstein), Suntory Hall (Tokyo), Avery Fisher Hall (New-York); his performances are broadcast by such musical TV channels and radios as: state Russian television and radio channel Kultura, Bayerische Rundfunk, Radio France, Mezzo, Cenqueime, Bayern Klassik, Das Erste ARD.

Since 2004 he has been an intern with the Tchaikovsky Department of Opera and Symphonic Conducting; since 2005 he has performed with various chamber and symphony orchestras.

Denis actively participates in various modern musical projects. In 2006 Shapovalov supported by the Moscow State Conservatory and the Russian Performing Art Charity Fund launched the All-Russian Contest of Young Composers, CelloVek. In December 2007 the contest winners released an album.

In March 2007 the framework of Moscow Biennale of Modern Performing Arts included the first night of Denis Shapovalov’s Multimedia show “Night Streets” which he composed music for and performed as a cellist.

In April 2007 Denis Shapovalov was the first classic musician to perform at the North Pole. December 2007 Shapovalov was invited to the 1st International Festival n.a. M. Rostropovich in Azerbaijan where he performed with the Soloists of Moscow Orchestra conducted by Yuriy Bashmet and violin player A. Moustonen.

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