Greatest Cellists
Greatest Cellists is a structured people dataset with 18 entries. Its fields include Cellist, Country, Years. The source values are preserved as a structured reference table.
Every row is shown below and is also available as CSV, JSON, or Excel.
Dataset details
- Table scope
- All 18 rows
- Fields
- 5 columns
- Source
- Community curated
- Data updated
- Apr 9, 2026
Included fields: Cellist, Country, Years, Signature Cello, Known For.
The table contains every record in this dataset; the same records are available in each download format.
Preview observations
- Years span
- 1876 to 1982
- Across 18 preview rows
Useful for
- Comparing Cellist, Country, and Years across people entries
- Building reference tables, charts, or analyses from 18 downloadable records
Cellist↕ | Country↕ | Years↕ | Signature Cello↕ | Known For↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pablo Casals | Spain | 1876-1973 | Matteo Goffriller 1733 | Rediscovered Bach's cello suites, boycotted fascist Spain, UN hymn composer, played until 96 |
| Mstislav Rostropovich | Russia | 1927-2007 | Duport Stradivarius 1711 | Soviet dissident exiled, Britten and Shostakovich dedicatee, played at Berlin Wall fall |
| Jacqueline du Pre | United Kingdom | 1945-1987 | Davidov Stradivarius 1712 | Elgar concerto benchmark, career ended by MS at 28, married Barenboim, Hilary and Jackie film |
| Yo-Yo Ma | France/United States | 1955- | Petunia Montagnana 1733 | Most famous living cellist, Silk Road Ensemble, Bach suites multiple times, Obama inauguration |
| Pierre Fournier | France | 1906-1986 | Miremont 1873 | Aristocrat of cellists, elegant French school, Bach suites benchmark recording |
| Janos Starker | Hungary/United States | 1924-2013 | Lord Aylesford Stradivarius 1696 | Iron technique, Kodaly Solo Sonata definitive recording, Indiana University long tenure |
| Paul Tortelier | France | 1914-1990 | Stradivarius 1673 | BBC cello masterclasses on television, composed pieces, passionate performer |
| Emanuel Feuermann | Ukraine/United States | 1902-1942 | De Munck Stradivarius 1730 | Died at 39 from complications, Heifetz-Rubinstein trio, peerless technique |
| Mischa Maisky | Latvia/Belgium | 1948- | Montagnana 1720 | Only cellist to study with both Rostropovich and Piatigorsky, long hair, DG exclusive |
| Gautier Capucon | France | 1981- | Matteo Goffriller 1701 | French lyrical tradition, duo with brother Renaud, Erato recordings |
| Steven Isserlis | United Kingdom | 1958- | Marquis de Corberon Stradivarius 1726 | Gut strings advocate, children's music books, deeply expressive interpretations |
| Lynn Harrell | United States | 1944-2020 | Du Pre Davidov Stradivarius 1673 | Inherited du Pre's Davidov Strad, Cleveland Orchestra principal at 19, Juilliard faculty |
| Alisa Weilerstein | United States | 1982- | William Forster 1790 | MacArthur Fellow, type 1 diabetes advocate, Elgar and Dvorak benchmarks for her generation |
| Truls Mork | Norway | 1961- | Domenico Montagnana 1723 | Scandinavian repertoire champion, Elgar and Dvorak recordings, comeback after illness |
| Sol Gabetta | Argentina/Switzerland | 1981- | Matteo Goffriller 1730 | Sony Classical star, Kammermusik Festival Olsberg founder, charismatic stage presence |
| Gregor Piatigorsky | Russia/United States | 1903-1976 | Batta Stradivarius 1714 | Escaped Soviet Russia swimming across river with cello, Heifetz-Rubinstein trio |
| Heinrich Schiff | Austria | 1951-2016 | Mara Stradivarius 1711 | Bach suites cycle, conductor-cellist, taught Alisa Weilerstein and Natalie Clein |
| Jean-Guihen Queyras | France | 1967- | Gioffredo Cappa 1696 | Contemporary music specialist, Harmonia Mundi Bach suites, Arcanto Quartett |
Free to explore · No signup needed
Frequently asked questions
How is Greatest Cellists organized?
The table starts in the source data's default order. You can sort and filter the loaded rows by the displayed fields.
How much data is available on this page?
This dataset contains 18 entries, and every row is available in the table and in the downloadable files.
Can I download the complete dataset?
Yes. CSV, JSON, and Excel downloads contain all 18 rows. Before republishing the data, review the source and any usage terms listed on this page; dtbse does not replace the original source's licensing terms.
Related Datasets
More in People
Famous Classical Conductors
Karajan, Bernstein, Toscanini, Abbado — who owned the podium?
Virtuoso Pianists
Horowitz, Rubinstein, Argerich, Lang Lang — who are the keyboard kings and queens?
Nobel Laureates by Country
Nobel Prize winners organized by country of birth or citizenship.
Nobel Peace Prize Winners
All Nobel Peace Prize laureates and organizations.
Famous Pirates
Notable pirates throughout history.
Famous Astronomers
Notable astronomers throughout history.
Roman Emperors
The rulers of Rome from Augustus to Constantine — who built, defended, or bankrupted the empire best?
Most Influential Economists
Keynes vs Hayek vs Friedman vs Marx - whose economic ideas actually shaped the world?
Renaissance Artists
The master painters and sculptors of the Italian Renaissance — who truly settled the Da Vinci vs Michelangelo rivalry?
Famous Philanthropists
Notable philanthropists and their contributions.
Iconic Photographers
Cartier-Bresson, Ansel Adams, Annie Leibovitz, Steve McCurry - who captured the world best?
History's Biggest Drug Lords
Pablo Escobar, El Chapo, Frank Lucas, Khun Sa - narco kingpins compared by empire size and body count.