Borislav Strulov
Borislav Strulev – «… a soloist with a rich, singsong sound» – The New York Times.
He can be proud of a stunning, all-encompassing sound full of bright colors and natural power… – The San Francisco Chronicle
«He plays as if he was born with a cello. The sound, the construction of phrases, the nature of the game and the technique make him a continuation of the Russian tradition of playing the cello. Look at this young man, and what is much more important is to listen to him». (Byron Janis).
An outstanding Russian cellist. He made his solo debut at Carnegie Hall, playing with legendary pianist Byron Janis, and was a special guest at the Oscar Peterson tribute concert there. He participated in the recording of the soundtrack for Luc Besson’s film «La Turbulence des fluids». A unique cellist of exceptional temperament and technique. Laureate of the BraVo2024 International Music Award, nominee for the Russian National Music Award «Victoria», Russian record holder (Russian Guinness), art director of the international festival BelgorodMusicFest – Borislav Strulov and Friends! Known worldwide for his innovative work as a multi-style cellist and producer, Yo-Yo Ma called him «the ideal musician of the 21st century», and the NY Times praised him for his «lively solo playing rich in nuance».
In 2024, he won the BraVo International Professional Music Award in the category «Best Classical Composition in Contemporary Performance».
Borislav Strulev has performed in venues such as: Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall and David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Centre (New York), Kennedy Centre (Washington), Orchestra Hall (Chicago), Kravis Centre and Van Wezel Hall (Florida), Auditorio de Madrid and Auditorio de Leon (Spain), Berlin Philharmonic and Kölner Philharmonie (Germany), Auditorio de Torino (Italy), Muzikverein (Vienna), Salle Gaveau (Paris), Suntory Hall (Tokyo), Tchaikovsky Concert Hall (Moscow), the Great and Small Halls of the Moscow Conservatory, the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Russia, the Great Hall of the People’s Assemblies on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, etc.
Orchestras with which he has collaborated: Detroit Symphony Orchestra, California Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, Antalya State Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Italian Radio and Television (RAI-Radiotelevisione Italiana), Sinfonieorchester Köln, Vienna Tonkünstler Music Society, Helsingborgs Symfoniorkeste, Norrlands Operan, Orquesta Sinfónica Del Principado de Asturias, Symphony Orchestra of India, Bolshoi Theatre Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Virtuosi, Svetlanov State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia, the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Moscow Philharmonic, the Russian National Orchestra, the State Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Tatarstan, orchestras in South America and South Africa, and many others.
Borislav Strulev has performed with Byron Janis, Denis Matsuev, Clark Terry, Bobby McFerrin, Michel Legrand, Elena Obraztsova, Ildar Abdrazakov, Julian Rachlin, Janine Jansen, Roger Kellaway, Randy Brecker, Regina Carter, Russell Malone, Eddie Daniels, Paquito D’Rivera, Roby Lakatos, the Janoska Ensemble, Christian McBride, Lewis Nash, Jonathan Moffett, Mia Farrow, Kathleen Battle, Dennis Graves, Sean Lennon, Dave Grusin, Georgy Garanyan, Igor Butman and others.
As part of Russian-Chinese cultural relations, he successfully completed a solo tour of Chinese cities and was invited by CCTV Culture to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2020 at the Great Hall of the People (Beijing), which was watched by over 100,000,000 people.
Borislav Strulev was a special guest at a concert in memory of the great Mstislav Rostropovich and his 90th birthday at the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in Washington.
Borislav Strulev has recorded CDs for companies such as SONY, BMG, RCA – Red Seal, VERVE, Lyrinx, Naxos, Melodiya, etc.