Mischa Maisky

Mischa Maisky is the only cellist to have studied with both Mstislav Rostropovich and Gregor Piatigorsky, two of the most influential cellists of the twentieth century. He studied with Rostropovich at the Moscow Conservatory in the 1960s before defecting from the Soviet Union, and later with Piatigorsky in the United States. This dual lineage gives Maisky a unique pedagogical heritage in the cello world.

Mischa Maisky was born in 1948 in Riga, Latvia, which was then part of the Soviet Union. He began studying cello at a young age and eventually moved to Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) to study at the conservatory there before transferring to the Moscow Conservatory. His early career in the USSR was marked by both extraordinary talent and political difficulties.

Mischa Maisky performs on a Domenico Montagnana cello built in Venice in 1720, an instrument of extraordinary rarity and tonal richness. Montagnana's cellos are considered among the finest ever made, rivaling those of Stradivari in their depth and projection. Maisky has played this instrument for decades of his international recording and performing career.

Mischa Maisky has recorded extensively for Deutsche Grammophon, one of the world's most prestigious classical labels, producing acclaimed interpretations of the Bach Cello Suites and major concerto repertoire. He has also recorded for other major labels including EMI and Pentatone. His recordings span solo works, chamber music with partners like Martha Argerich, and concerto collaborations with leading orchestras.