Cellist and Conductor
David Geringas is one of the most versatile musicians of our time. The cellist and conductor works with an unusually broad repertoire from early baroque to contemporary music. The native Lithuanian was the first to perform many compositions by Russian and Lithuanian avantgarde composers in the West. For his international engagement for Lithuanian music and composers he received the highest accolades from his native country.
Federal President Horst Köhler awarded him with the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in October 2006 honoring him for his outstanding achievements as a musician and as an ambassador for Germany's culture on the international music scene.
From 1963 to 1973, Geringas studied with Mstislav Rostopovich at Moscow's tradition-steeped music conservatory. In 1970 he won the 1. prize and the gold medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition. At the Lithuanian Music Academy David Geringas studied conducting with Prof. Juozas Domarkas.
David Geringas played all over the world with the most important orchestras and the greatest conductors of our time. His extensive discography includes many award-winning recordings such as the 12 cello concertos by Luigi Boccherini (Grand Prix du Disque), the chamber music by Henri Dutilleux (Diapason d'Or) or the cello concertos by Hans Pfitzner (Jahrespreis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik).
Important contemporary composers such as Sofia Gubaidulina, Peteris Vasks and Erkki-Sven Tüür have dedicated new compositions to Geringas. In July 2006, Anatolijus Senderovas' composition "David's Song for Cello and String Quartet" was premièred in Kronberg – a dedication to Geringas's 60th birthday.
As a conductor, David Geringas performs all over the world. Since 2005 he serves as "Chief Guest Conductor" of the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra Japan. In 2007 David Geringas made his debut with the Tokio Philharmonic Orchestra and the China Philharmonic Orchestra. | 