... It seems, there is not a single emotion that couldn't be conveyed by this fiery temperamental virtuoso, stunning the listeners with its technical arsenal. "Lietuvos rytas"
Biography
Lithuanian cellist Gleb Pyšniak is recognised as one of the leading Baltic musicians of his generation, acclaimed for his expressive artistry, refined musicianship, and versatile creative profile as soloist, chamber musician, educator, artistic director, and curator of interdisciplinary projects.
Born in Vilnius, he began his musical education at the Balys Dvarionas Music School, where he studied cello with Tatjana Kuc and was mentored by Prof. Silvija Sondeckienė, who generously shared her experience and artistic guidance. At the age of fourteen, he made his debut as a soloist with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Prof. Saulius Sondeckis at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall.
He later studied at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre with Prof. Rimantas Armonas and continued his studies in Vienna with Prof. Natalia Gutman at the Konservatorium Wien, graduating cum laude. He also pursued chamber music studies with Prof. Johannes Meissl at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.
During his studies, he further enriched his artistic development through masterclasses with such renowned artists as Yo-Yo Ma, Mstislav Rostropovich, Ivry Gitlis, Heinrich Schiff, David Geringas, Truls Mørk, Philippe Muller, Lluis Claret, Miklós Perényi, and others.
A laureate of the Karl Davydov International Cello Competition and winner of the Antonio Janigro Competition, Pyšniak has also received the Yamaha Music Foundation Award and the “New Master on Tour” title by The Holland Music Sessions. His artistic contribution has been recognised by Presidents of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus and Gitanas Nausėda.
As a soloist, he has collaborated with orchestras including the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, Taiwan Artists Symphony Orchestra (TASO), Porto Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonietta Riga, St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra, and Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra. In recent years, he has appeared regularly with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra.
As a soloist and chamber musician, he has appeared at major concert halls and festivals across Europe and beyond, including the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Vienna Musikverein, Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Warsaw Philharmonic, Moscow Conservatory Great Hall, Quirinal Palace in Rome, Accademia Filarmonica Romana, Helsinki Musiikkitalo, Casa da Música in Porto, Lisinski Concert Hall in Zagreb, Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Teatro Verdi in Pisa, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, the Juilliard School in New York, Chicago Cultural Center, and Grand Salon des Invalides in Paris.
He has appeared at important international festivals including the Edinburgh Festival, Ljubljana Festival, Bergen International Festival, Nafplion Festival, Vilnius Festival, Klaipėda Cello Festival, Gaida Contemporary Music Festival, Fundación Monteleón in Spain, and The Annual Chamber Music Festival in New York, among others.
His repertoire spans from the Baroque to contemporary works, including major concertos for cello and orchestra. A dedicated advocate of new music, Pyšniak has given numerous world and European premieres, collaborating closely with contemporary composers and actively contributing to the development of Baltic repertoire. Among the works written for or closely associated with him are Vytautas Barkauskas’ Duettissimo, composed especially for Dalia Dėdinskaitė and Gleb Pyšniak and performed at the Vienna Musikverein; Anatolijus Šenderovas’ Dialogai; works by Loreta Narvilaitė written especially for the duo; concertos for cello and chamber orchestra by Silvija Miliūnaitė and Jurgis Juozapaitis; as well as works for cello and piano by Žibuoklė Martinaitytė, Mihkel Kerem, and Arturs Maskats, composed especially for Gleb Pyšniak and pianist Rokas Zubovas for their programme Baltic Soundscapes | Čiurlionis 150.
A significant recent highlight was his performance of the European premiere of Travel Guide to Nicaragua for cello and choir by internationally acclaimed American composer Michael Gordon. Pyšniak continues to collaborate closely with Vilnius City Municipality Choir Jauna Muzika and conductor Vaclovas Augustinas, with whom he also recorded a new version of this work.
His recordings and performances have been broadcast and featured by radio stations in Europe and the United States, including Lithuanian National Radio and Television, BBC Radio, Swiss cultural radio RSI Rete Due, and WFMT Chicago. His album Baltic Soundscapes | Čiurlionis 150, recorded with pianist Rokas Zubovas, was presented by RSI Rete Due and featured in WFMT’s New Releases selection, with a dedicated album presentation.
His discography reflects a broad artistic spectrum, ranging from contemporary Baltic repertoire to major chamber music works. His recordings include Baltic Prayer, LEGENDOS, Window to Lithuania, Duettissimo, Aerogramme, Exclusively Piazzolla, Vilos Trio – Johanna Doderer Piano Trios, and Baltic Soundscapes | Čiurlionis 150.
One of his earliest internationally recognised artistic projects, Window to Lithuania — a musical postcard of Lithuanian chamber music created during his student years — toured more than sixteen European countries, as well as the United States and China. Alongside his concert activity, Pyšniak continuously initiates projects dedicated to Lithuanian and Baltic cultural identity, including Baltic Prayer, Baltic Soundscapes, and Lithuanian Soundscapes.
Together with violinist Dalia Dėdinskaitė, he forms the internationally acclaimed duo Duettissimo, praised for its artistic intensity, emotional depth, and innovative programming. The duo’s name originates from Vytautas Barkauskas’ work Duettissimo, composed especially for Dalia Dėdinskaitė and Gleb Pyšniak. Dutch newspaper Noordhollands Dagblad described the ensemble as a “dream duo,” while The Guardian called the musicians “a revelation.” One of the Ljubljana Festival’s leading critics described Duettissimo as “the best chamber concert at the 72nd Ljubljana Festival” (2024).
Gleb Pyšniak also maintains a close artistic collaboration with the internationally acclaimed Danish dance theatre Granhøj Dans and choreographer Palle Granhøj. Together with Dalia Dėdinskaitė as the duo Duettissimo, he has become an integral part of Granhøj’s productions, where live music and performance are inseparable from the choreographic language. Critics have particularly praised the duo’s organic stage presence, virtuosity, and the unique fusion of music, movement, depth, and theatrical expression.
Alongside his performing career, Pyšniak is deeply engaged in musical education and cultural initiatives. Since 2019, he has been teaching at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and is regularly invited to give masterclasses at higher music education institutions in Lithuania and abroad, including Italy, Spain, Estonia, and Taiwan.
He serves as Artistic Director of the International Joseph Achron Music Festival, Kintai Festival, and Kalėdinis Vilnius Festival.