HarrisonParrott is delighted to welcome cellist István Várdai to its roster for worldwide general management.
 
​“His playing was commendable for its fluidity and virtuosity, distinguished by both a fleet-fingered lightness and a rich timbre.” (New York Times)
 
István Várdai has already established himself as an artist of musical integrity having worked with orchestras such as Budapest Festival Orchestra, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, The Mariinsky Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, and with conductors including Tugan Sokhiev, Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Joana Mallwitz, Mikhail Pletnov, Andrés Orozco-Estrada and Gábor Takács-Nagy. He is also an avid performer of chamber music with partners including András Schiff, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Víkingur Ólafsson, Peter Frankl, Kristóf Baráti, Sayaka Shoji, Tabea Zimmermann, Lars Anders Tomter, Alexandra Conunova and Shai Wosner.
 
During 2018/19 season, István will perform with Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra under Susanna Mälkki, Chamber Orchestra of Europe together with Gidon Kremer and Yuri Bashmet, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse under Klaus Mäkelä, and Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra under Hannu Lintu.
 
Acclaimed for his ​“impeccable intonation” (Limelight) and ​“gratifyingly sumptuous and varied tonal palette” (Gramophone), István performs on his illustrious 1673 ​“Ex du Pré-Harrell” Stradivari cello.

In October 2018, István joined the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna as the successor to Heinrich Schiff.

An ARD and Geneva Competition winner, István’s most recent album releases include recital discs of Kodály’s ​‘Music for Cello’ and Bach’s Cello Suites (Brilliant Classics).