Alexander Gottgelf
Cello
Principal

Born in 1948, Alexander Gotgelf is a 1972 graduate of the Gnesin Institute, studying under Professor Armen Georgian. He has won all-Russian, all-Soviet and international contests, including the Fifth International Tchaikovsky Competition (Moscow, 1974).
In 1969, Gotgelf began working in symphonic orchestras in the Russian capital (Moscow State Symphonic Orchestra; Academic Symphonic Orchestra of the Moscow State Philharmonia), and in chamber orchestras and ensembles (State Chamber Orchestra; Moscow Soloists; Contemporary Music Ensemble, under the leadership of Yuri Kasparov). He has been playing with the Russian National Orchestra since its founding in 1990.
Alexander Gotgelf has participated in numerous solo and chamber concerts. Over the years, he has played with Igor Oistrakh, Mikhail Pletnev, Natalia Shakhovskaya, the Borodin Quartet and others.
In 2002, the British firm "Cello Classics," released a disk titled "Great Moments in Cello Playing." Gotgelf's performance of "Scherzo" by Yuri Shaporin (at the Fifth International Tchaikofsky Competition) appears alongside the work of Pablo Casals, Emanuel Feuermann, Daniil Shafran, Gregor Piatigorsky, Mischa Maisky, Alexander Rudin and others. On the liner notes for this recording, Keith Harvey wrote of Gotgelf: "A cellist in Olympic mode, here is a demonstration, pure and simple, of fantastic Russian training. The co-ordination between Gotgelf?s fingers and bow is utterly extraordinary, particularly since this was achieved under the intense conditions of the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Had there been such a thing as a ?Velocity? prize, he would undoubtedly have been the outright winner!"
In 1969, Gotgelf began working in symphonic orchestras in the Russian capital (Moscow State Symphonic Orchestra; Academic Symphonic Orchestra of the Moscow State Philharmonia), and in chamber orchestras and ensembles (State Chamber Orchestra; Moscow Soloists; Contemporary Music Ensemble, under the leadership of Yuri Kasparov). He has been playing with the Russian National Orchestra since its founding in 1990.
Alexander Gotgelf has participated in numerous solo and chamber concerts. Over the years, he has played with Igor Oistrakh, Mikhail Pletnev, Natalia Shakhovskaya, the Borodin Quartet and others.
In 2002, the British firm "Cello Classics," released a disk titled "Great Moments in Cello Playing." Gotgelf's performance of "Scherzo" by Yuri Shaporin (at the Fifth International Tchaikofsky Competition) appears alongside the work of Pablo Casals, Emanuel Feuermann, Daniil Shafran, Gregor Piatigorsky, Mischa Maisky, Alexander Rudin and others. On the liner notes for this recording, Keith Harvey wrote of Gotgelf: "A cellist in Olympic mode, here is a demonstration, pure and simple, of fantastic Russian training. The co-ordination between Gotgelf?s fingers and bow is utterly extraordinary, particularly since this was achieved under the intense conditions of the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Had there been such a thing as a ?Velocity? prize, he would undoubtedly have been the outright winner!"
Performances with the RNO
June 2014
In Russia
17 Tue
Rachmaninov Estate Museum
Ivanovka
Russia
Program
- Rachmaninov
- Trio élégiaque
- Five Songs for Violin and Piano
- Andante from Sonata for Cello and Piano
- Tchaikovsky
- Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano in F minor, op. 50
Guest Artists:
Alexey Bruni, Violin
Alexander Gottgelf, Cello
Leonid Ogrinchuk, Piano, Basso Continuo
January 2008
In Russia
18 Fri
Tchaikovsky Concert Hall
Moscow
Russia
Program
- Kodaly
- Galanta Dances
- Haydn
- Symphony for Violin, Oboe, Bassoon and Cello with Orchestra
- Symphony No. 49 ("La Passione")
- Bartok
- Music for String, Percussion and Celesta
Conductor:
Guest Artists:
Tatiana Porshneva, Violin
Olga Tomilova, Oboe
Alexey Sizov, Bassoon
Alexander Gottgelf, Cello
February 2006
In Russia
15 Wed
Orchestrion
Moscow
Russia
Program
Soloists of the RNO
- Mozart, W. A.
- Quartet for Flute and Strings, D major (K.285)
- Quartet for Flute and Strings, A major (K.298)
- Kegelstatt Trio for Clarinet, Viola and Piano, E flat major (K.498)
- String Trio, E flat major (K.563)
Guest Artists:
Alexey Bogorad, Clarinet
Sergei Dubov, Viola
Alexey Bruni, Violin
Alexander Gottgelf, Cello
Mikhail Dubov, Piano
October 2005
In Russia
07 Fri
Orchestrion
Moscow
Russia
Program
- Gluck
- Concerto for Flute, G major
- Salieri
- Triple Concerto
- Mozart, L.
- Trumpet Concerto
Guest Artists:
Olga Tomilova, Oboe
Alexey Bruni, Violin
Alexander Gottgelf, Cello
Vladislav Lavrik, Trumpet