While his discography might suggest a preference for chamber and recital repertory, cellist
Christian Poltéra regularly appears as soloist with leading orchestras in Europe, the U.K., and U.S. Indeed, and he manages to balance his solo, chamber, and recital concerts pretty evenly and in a remarkably broad range of repertory as well, from mainstream works by
J.S. Bach,
Mozart,
Beethoven,
Schumann,
Brahms,
Tchaikovsky,
Prokofiev, and
Shostakovich to lesser known fare by
Honegger, Frank Martin,
Dutilleux,
Lutoslawski, Othmar Schoeck, Ernst Toch, and
Michael Tippett. In recital and chamber music
Poltéra has collaborated with such artists as pianists
Mitsuko Uchida and
Lars Vogt, violinists
Gidon Kremer and
Christian Tetzlaff, and a spate of well-known and ad hoc ensembles, including the
Zehetmair,
Auryn, and
Belcea quartets.
Poltéra also performs regularly in a string trio with violinist
Frank Peter Zimmermann and violist
Antoine Tamestit.
Poltéra has recorded for various labels, including BIS, Chandos, DG, and Naxos.
Christian Poltéra was born in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1977. He studied cello with Nancy Chumachenko at the Zurich School of Music. Under her guidance he played in a trio with violinist
Linus Roth and pianist (now conductor)
Philippe Jordan, and with them won first prize in chamber music performance at the 1992 Swiss National Competition.
Poltéra had further studies with
Boris Pergamenschikow in Berlin, and with
Heinrich Schiff in both Salzburg and Vienna.
During his student years
Poltéra was already drawing notice as a soloist: at 17 he relaced
Yo-Yo Ma in a Zurich concert with the Tonhalle Orchestra under
David Zinman in a peformance of an
Elgar concerto. In 1998
Poltéra debuted in the recording studio with a pair of Pan Classics CDs, the first containing the Cello Concerto of Paul Huber and the next offering a
Dvorák concerto. By the turn of the new century
Poltéra was regarded among the most talented young Swiss cellists.
In 2001
Poltéra became a member of the BBC New Generation Artist scheme, performing in that capactity until 2004. That year he received a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award, which provides financial assistance to outstanding young talent in the development of their careers.
In 2006
Poltéra made his New York debut at Avery Fisher Hall with the American Symphony Orchestra and the following year made his BBC Proms debut. Meanwhile, the European Concert Hall Organization selected
Poltéra as a Rising Star for the 2006-2007 concert season. In this role
Poltéra was given a slate of concerts in repertory of his choosing at some of Europe's most prestigious concerts halls.
Poltéra continued making important debuts, as with his 2008 appearance at Carnegie Hall with
Mitsuko Uchida and others in a performance of
Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time. In 2010
Poltéra appeared on an acclaimed BIS CD of
Mozart's trios K. 471 and K. 563, with trio companions
Frank Peter Zimmermann and
Antoine Tamestit.
Poltéra's busy 2012 schedule included concerts in February in Vevey, Switzerland, and Antwerp, Belgium with pianist
Ronald Brautigam in sonatas by
Beethoven.
Poltéra plays a 1675 Antonio Casini cello.