American cellist Alisa Weilerstein has attracted widespread attention worldwide for playing that combines a natural virtuosic command and technical precision with impassioned musicianship. The intensity of her playing has regularly been lauded, as has the spontaneity and sensitivity of her interpretations. Following her Zankel Hall recital debut in 2008, Justin Davidson of New York Magazine said: “Whatever she plays sounds custom-composed for her, as if she has a natural affinity with everything.” In September 2011 she was named a MacArthur Foundation Fellow and in 2010 she became an exclusive recording artist for Decca Classics, the first cellist to be signed by the prestigious label in over 30 years. Ms. Weilerstein’s debut album with Decca, set for release in November 2012, will feature performances of the Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor and the Elliott Carter Cello Concerto with conductor Daniel Barenboim and the Berlin Staatskapelle.

She has appeared with all of the major orchestras throughout the United States and Europe with conductors including Marin Alsop, Daniel Barenboim, Pablo Heras-Casado, Sir Andrew Davis, Gustavo Dudamel, Sir Mark Elder, Christoph Eschenbach, Manfred Honeck, Marek Janowski, Paavo Järvi, Jeffrey Kahane, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Ludovic Morlot, Peter Oundjian, Matthias Pintscher, Yuri Temirkanov, Osmo Vänskä, Simone Young and David Zinman.

Ms. Weilerstein’s 2012-13 season includes engagements in Canada, Belgium, Finland, France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Russia, and across the United States. In September 2012 she will return to Germany to perform the Elliott Carter Cello Concerto with Daniel Barenboim and the Berlin Staatskapelle. On November 1 Ms. Weilerstein will perform Haydn’s D major Cello Concerto with Nicholas McGegan and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Carnegie Hall. She will then appear with conductor Gianandrea Noseda and the Philadelphia Orchestra in December (Elgar Cello Concerto), conductor Lionel Bringuier with the Atlanta Symphony in April (Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1), and at the Kennedy Center with conductor Christoph Eschenbach and the National Symphony Orchestra in May (Elgar Cello Concerto). In January 2013 Ms. Weilerstein will tour Europe with pianist Inon Barnatan, visiting Germany, Spain and the Netherlands. Ms. Weilerstein will make her debut with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields in March for a 16-city tour with Mr. Barnatan.