many others of his generation, Wispelwey developed a conviction that, under the right conditions, much of the 18th- and 19th-century string repertoire sounds superior when played on gut strings instead of metal. However, he is not a purist, and he plays on steel strings if conditions make it sound better than gut strings. He has been praised for his "intelligent, penetrating musicianship and lyrical commitment," and Ivan Hewett, writer for the Telegraph and teacher at the Royal College of Music, likened him to a "master rhetorician." Personal life Since the age of 19 he has resided in Amsterdam. References External links www.pieterwispelwey.com Interview at cello.org Johann Sebastian Bach: 6 Suites per Violoncello Solo Senza Basso, Pieter Wispelwey, 2012 (2 cd's + DVD-full-length documentary) 1962 births Living people Dutch classical cellists People from Haarlem Musicians from Amsterdam