Idlir Shyti
“… his refined musical sensibility, his mastery of technique, the wide spectrum of repertoire he plays, together with his ability to alter different styles of classical music, makes him an outstanding and admirable musician.” (Gazeta Shqiptare)

Idlir Shyti is an Albanian cellist based in London. He has been awarded the ‘Diplôme Supérieur de Concertiste’ under the tutelage of Anssi Karttunen at the École Normale de Musique de Paris. Preceding, he studied with Richard Lester at the Royal College of Music London and at the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia Rome with Maurizio Gambini. In his journey of learning, he has come across and played for many renown musicians such as Yo-Yo Ma, Gary Hoffman and Johannes Goritzki.

As a soloist he has performed with Sudwestdeutche Kammerorchester Pforzheim, Southbank Sinfonia, Orkestra Filharmonike e Tiranes amongst others. An ardent chamber musician, he has been invited to play at Rome Chamber Music Festival, Leamington Festival, Anghiari Festival, Different trains Festival, Southwark International Music Festival, alongside artists like the Allegri Quartet, Alberto Portugheis.

His passion for contemporary music has led him to premiere chamber music works at Cheltenham Festival, Festival of Contemporary Music for All as part of Chineke and IXION ensembles. He has worked with composers such as Joseph Sonnabend, Michael Finnissy, Morgan Hayes, Xia-Leon Sloane. Whilst, London premieres include ‘The Key’ Opera by Francesca Le Lohe for three trio ensembles and Kenneth Hesketh`s Ein Lichtspiel.

Idlir is also an enthusiastic orchestra musician and has collaborated with Philharmonia Orchestra, English National Opera, BBC NOW, BBC CO, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Southbank Sinfonia, Welsh National Opera.

His beloved good looking cello was made by Peter Beare in 2007.