Kian Soltani has been hailed by The Times as a “remarkable cellist,” and his playing—described by Gramophone as “sheer perfection”—is characterized by a depth of expression, sense of individuality, and technical mastery, alongside his charismatic stage presence and ability to create an immediate emotional connection with his audience. Invited by the world’s leading orchestras, conductors, and recital promoters, he is one of the most talked-about cellists performing today. 

In the 2023/24 season, he was the Focus Artist of Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and shared stages with Wiener Symphoniker, WDR Sinfonieorchester, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, and NHK Symphony Orchestra. He also toured with Camerata Salzburg and Mahler Chamber Orchestra. 

His recent orchestral highlights include Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. As a recitalist, he appears in prestigious halls and series including Pierre Boulez Saal, Berlin; Wigmore Hall, London; Schubertiade; Musikverein, Vienna; Beethoven-Haus, Bonn; and Konzerthaus Dortmund. 

In 2017, Soltani signed an exclusive recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon, and his first disc, Home, comprising works for cello and piano by Schubert, Schumann, and Reza Vali, was released to international acclaim in 2018, with Gramophone describing the recording as “sublime.”

In 2022, he won the Innovative Listening Experience award at the coveted Opus Klassik Awards—Germany’s most prestigious classical music prize honouring outstanding artists and recordings—for his Cello Unlimited album released in October 2021.

Soltani attracted worldwide attention in April 2013 as winner of the International Paulo Cello Competition in Helsinki. In February 2017, he won Germany’s celebrated Leonard Bernstein Award, and in December 2017, he was awarded the prestigious Credit Suisse Young Artist Award. 

Born in Bregenz, Austria, in 1992 to a family of Persian musicians, Soltani began playing the cello at age 4 and was only 12 when he joined Ivan Monighetti’s class at the Basel Music Academy. He was chosen as an Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation scholarship holder in 2014 and completed further studies as a member of the Young Soloists program at Germany’s Kronberg Academy. He received additional musical training at the International Music Academy in Liechtenstein. Since October 2023, he has been Professor of Cello at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

Soltani plays “The London, ex Boccherini” Antonio Stradivari cello, kindly loaned to him by a generous sponsor through Beare’s International Violin Society.