Anastasia Kobekina Essentials

Cellist Anastasia Kobekina’s performances are characterised by a deep expressive involvement in each musical phrase. Whether a Bach solo suite, a Vivaldi cello concerto or one of the many beautiful arrangements featured on her albums over the years, Kobekina sings through her cello, drawing, at moments, an almost vocal tone from the instrument. Elsewhere, such as in the Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1, Kobekina wrings extremes of emotions from the disquieting music, from displays of technical athleticism in the final movement, to the skittish opening bars where Kobekina dances in lockstep with the orchestra with rhythmic precision. Finally, listen out for two solo cello works by Bryce Dessner that Kobekina plays with an almost meditative intensity.