Jelena Očić

Conservatorium van Amsterdam

The striking cellistic art of Jelena Očić has met with ovations on three continents. Energetic, poetic, virtuoso, her playing is a rich kaleidoscope of colours and emotions.  Bernard Greenhouse, founding cellist of the great “Beaux Arts” Trio, lauded her as “one of the most remarkable cello talents today”. The late Siegfried Palm, a major figure in 20th century music, called her “one of the most promising interpreters of New Music”.

Among her chamber music partners have been Konstantin Bogino, Vladimir Mendelssohn, Jose Gallardo, Julius Berger, Pavel Vernikov, Yuri Gandelsman, Marco Rizzi, Federico Lovato and the recently deceased Greenhouse, to whose memory her production of Beethoven’s “Kreutzer” Sonata on “Challenge Classics” is dedicated.

She is frequently a jury member in international competitions.

The Croatian cellist concertizes internationally as soloist with philharmonic and chamber orchestras and as recitalist in Eastern and Western Europe, in the United States and Asia. Numerous composers (Cornell, Šenderovas, Sorg, Prohaska, etc.) have dedicated works to her. Her recordings with the pianist Federico Lovato for “Challenge Classics”, include sonatas by Ginastera, Hindemith and Kabalewsky, as well as Šenderovas’ Songs of Shulamith and Czerny’s Beethoven transcription have been adjudged superb by the critics. Her most recent CD is dedicated to works of the Baroque.

Jelena Očić's students have been winners of international competitions (Markneukirchen, Lutoslawski Grand Prix, Oldenburg, etc.) and members of orchestras in major European cities (Rome, München, Weimar, etc.).