Zlatomir Fung — one of the leading cellists of his generation — joins IMSLP to trace his path from prodigious beginnings to becoming the youngest-ever International Tchaikovsky Competition winner, unpacking the mindset of competition playing and the balance between intensity, restraint, and interpretation under pressure.

He delves into the intersection of analysis and expression — transcribing for the cello, Popper etudes, chess-like pattern recognition, and the balance between composer intent and performer authorship. We talk Fantasies, his debut album weaving operatic transcriptions with contemporary works, and explore his close study of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, revealing how comparing the manuscript and first edition can reshape phrasing and approach. Fung also reflects on being the youngest Juilliard professor ever, social media’s evolving role, and what artistic success means beyond competition.