Spain
“His playing was commendable for its fluidity and virtuosity, distinguished by both a fleet-fingered lightness and a rich timbre.” (The New York Times)
István Várdai is widely admired for the joyous energy, rhythmic vitality, and elegant grace of his deeply expressive interpretations of the solo, chamber, and orchestral cello repertoire. Now in his sixth season as Artistic Director of the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, he continues to curate imaginative and inspiring programmes. Alongside this role, he welcomes internationally renowned artists to the Kaposfest Chamber Music Festival and maintains an active solo career with leading orchestras, performing repertoire ranging from Bach to Péter Eötvös
In 2025, István Várdai made his debut with the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia under the baton of Tugan Sokhiev, performing Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 2. Earlier in the season, he recorded the same concerto with the BBC Philharmonic and conductor John Storgårds. Another highlight was a tour of Belgium and Hungary with the Royal Liège Philharmonic under Gergely Madaras, performing Elgar’s Cello Concerto. He also returned to the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic for a play-and-direct programme featuring works by Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven.
Recent international tours have taken him to major festivals in Germany, including the Kronberg Academy, Heidelberger Frühling and the Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern Festival, as well as to the Cremona Stradivari Festival and the Cartagena Music Festival in Colombia. At a recent concert in the Musikverein, István Várdai directed Dvořák Cello Concerto from his instrument.
A passionate chamber musician, he has collaborated with artists such as András Schiff, Yuri Bashmet, Gidon Kremer, Jean‑Efflam Bavouzet, Mischa Maisky, Elisabeth Leonskaja, and Liza Ferschtman at many of the world’s leading venues. In 2026, he continues chamber music collaborations with Víkingur Ólafsson, Kirill Gerstein, Ilya Gringolts, and Roman Simović.
His discography includes recordings of the cello concertos by Janáček, Prokofiev, and Elgar for Ysaÿe Records, as well as a critically acclaimed recording of Bach’s Solo Cello Suites released by Brilliant Classics. His most recent album, Szinergia, celebrates rhythm and folk traditions in works by Bartók, Hartmann, Kodály, and Weiner. Created in close collaboration with clarinetist Pablo Barragán and the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, the album was released on the Accentus label.
Following success on the international competition circuit – including First Prize at the ARD International Music Competition in 2014 and the Geneva International Music Competition in 2008 – István Várdai has served as a jury member at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 2019 and artistic director of the Budapest International Cello Competition in 2025. He holds a teaching position at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, where he succeeded the late Heinrich Schiff and where he himself studied in 2005. István Várdai performs on the ‘Ex du Pré–Harrell’ Stradivari cello (1673), formerly played by Jacqueline du Pré.
