Kyril Zlotnikov | Cello

A founding member of the internationally acclaimed Jerusalem Quartet, Kyril Zlotnikov has established himself as one of the most versatile and compelling cellists of his generation. Equally at home on the concert stage as a soloist, Zlotnikov has collaborated with many of today’s most distinguished artists and conductors. His most recent performances include his rendition of Elgar’s Cello Concerto with the Mannheimer Philharmoniker under Boian Videnoff at Rosengarten Mannheim.

As a soloist, Zlotnikov has performed with leading orchestras, including the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Ludwigsburg Symphony Orchestra, The Gulbenkian Orchestra, West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, and Jerusalem Camerata. He has worked under the baton of esteemed conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Zubin Mehta, Lawrence Foster, Asher Fish, and Simone Young. His repertoire spans the full breadth of the cello literature, from Baroque and Classical masterpieces to Romantic and contemporary works.

A sought-after chamber musician, Zlotnikov is a regular guest at major international festivals, including the Proms, Verbier Festival, Vancouver, Gstaad, Salzburg, Rheingau, Ravinia, Schleswig-Holstein, Jerusalem, and Schwetzingen Festivals. He has shared the stage with celebrated artists such as András Schiff, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Pierre Boulez, Elena Bashkirova, Mitsuko Uchida, Natalia Gutman, Tabea Zimmerman, Miriam Fried, Michael Tree, Nikolaj Znaider, Lang Lang, Itamar Golan, and Martin Fröst.

As a dedicated mentor, Zlotnikov has served on juries for prestigious international competitions, including the ARD International Music Competition, Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition, and Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition. He was a principal cellist and teacher of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra from 2001 to 2012.

His discography includes numerous recordings with the Jerusalem Quartet, as well as a celebrated release of Mozart’s complete piano trios with Daniel Barenboim and Nikolaj Znaider on EMI Classics as well as Beethoven and Brahms’s clarinet trios with Alexander Bedenko and Itamar Golan on Orchid Classics. Since 2020, Zlotnikov has been an ambassador for Jargar Strings.

Kyril Zlotnikov performs on an exceptional Amati Brothers cello, made in Cremona circa 1610, generously loaned by a Charitable Trust.

Born in Minsk, Belarus, into a family of musicians, Zlotnikov trained at the Belarusian State Music Academy before continuing his studies in Israel with Uzi Wiesel and Hillel Zori, completing his education under Michael Khomitzer at the Jerusalem Rubin Academy of Music and Dance. Recognized early for his talent, he was awarded prizes in the Clairmont Competition, Braun-Roger Siegl Competition, and Pierre Tarcali Prize, as well as receiving a scholarship from the America-Israel Culture Foundation.