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Cello
Internationally acclaimed as one of the foremost cellists of his generation, James Kreger first gained worldwide attention in 1974 at theTchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, where judges hailed his playing as "amazingly poetical" and awarded him a top prize. His previous New York debut recital as winner of the Concert Artist Guild Auditions had created a sensation, prompting the New York Times critic to write, "James Kreger's formal entry into the ranks of cello virtuosi must be accounted a memorable event."
Mr. Kreger rapidly became a familiar figure on the international concert scene, appearing with orchestras and in recital throughout the United States, Eastern and Western Europe and the Orient. He has been the recipient of a Martha Baird Rockefeller grant, and has toured under the auspices of the U.S. State Department and the sponsorship of the Leventritt Foundation.
With his large and varied repertoire, Mr. Kreger has frequently made guest appearances at major music festivals throughout the world, including Casals, Mostly Mozart, Ravinia, Dubrovnik, Tanglewood, Saratoga, Marlboro, Brno, Stratford, Newport, Chopin, Indianapolis Romantic and Appalachian Summer Festival.
James Kreger with Rostropovich
Critics have frequently commented on qualities that set Mr. Kreger apart from other cellists of his generation, citing his "broad range of expressive nuance" and his deep emotional conviction, allied to a "total command of the instrument" (The New York Times). The words "passion" and "control"
often occur side-by-side in his reviews. The distinguished Soviet cellist Daniel Shafran observed that Mr. Kreger's performances "were truly lit up with inspiration," while musicologist Nicholas Kenyon, reviewing Mr. Kreger's London recital debut at Wigmore Hall, bluntly stated, "James Kreger is a marvel."
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Mr. Kreger was born and raised in Nashville, beginning cello studies at age 9. While still a student at the University of Michigan at age 18, he won the prestigious Piatigorsky Prize. Mr. Kreger completed his musical training with undergraduate and post-graduate work at the Juilliard School, where his teachers were Harvey Shapiro and Leonard Rose; during that time he was also strongly influenced by his studies with Pablo Casals.
Mr. Kreger is a member of the Juilliard faculty. He can be heard on the CBS, Guild Music, Leonarda, Melodiya, Music and Arts, and Koch labels.
Reviews
- "Mr. Kreger's playing is strong, vigorous and impassioned. It was always firmly controlled, never losing musical or tonal focus."
- The New York Times
- "Within measures, Kreger established his 'voice' - and what a commanding sound it was! For the slow, romantic utterance, his playing is unsurpassed."
- Musical America
- "Kreger can play the cello astoundingly. He has a concentrated, hot sound of unusual power, and a combination of good ear and good left hand that keep his playing in tune even where things become technically very difficult."
- Boston Globe
- "Kreger's tone was simply wonderful: mellow, rich, consistent throughout."
- New York Post
- "...a welcome breadth of tone, an eloquence born of total conviction."
- Daily Telegraph (London)
- "In the cadenza, his technique was breathtaking in its assurance and tonal purity. Unafraid of emotions, he invested the lyrical sections with an honesty that spoke thunderingly of his gifts as a musician."
- Indianapolis News
James Kreger's Mendelssohn recordings.
Contact details and further information
E-mail James Kreger
For further details, see James Kreger's website .