Adrian Brendel joins us as our soloist on Saturday 30 November 2024
performing the Dvořák Cello Concerto

One of the most versatile and original cellists of his generation, Adrian Brendel has travelled the world as soloist, collaborator and teacher.  His early immersion in classical music inspired an enduring fascination that has led to encounters with many fine musicians at the world’s most prestigious festivals and concert halls.  His discovery of contemporary music through the works of Kurtag, Kagel, and Ligeti in his teenage years opened a vital avenue that he continues to explore with huge enthusiasm alongside his passion for improvisation and programme curation.  In 2014 he became a member of the Nash Ensemble of London with whom he is resident at Wigmore hall throughout every season.

Adrian has recorded a wide range of music for Philips, Hyperion, ECM new series, NMC, Bis, and other labels.  These include a survey of Beethoven’s complete works for cello and piano with his father, Alfred Brendel; a collection of pieces dedicated to him during many years of valuable collaboration with Sir Harrison Birtwistle; and much of the core chamber music repertoire with Nash ensemble and other partnerships.

As curator of Plush festival in Dorset from 1995-2017, Adrian forged an original programming style, bringing together diverse thematic strands across a wide span of music from Machaut to the present day.  The festival attracted artists such as Sir Andras Schiff, Radu Lupu, Lawrence Power, Miklos Perenyi, Oliver Knussen, and John Taylor amongst many regular visitors, and featured music by more than 100 contemporary composers.

Adrian is a familiar presence at many of Europe’s leading festivals including Schubertiade Schwarzenberg, Verbier, Aldeburgh, Edinburgh and Salzburg.  He has performed as soloist with orchestras including NDR Hamburg, Gulbenkian, Academy of St Martins, Philharmonia and RSNO, and in recital with Till Fellner, Alasdair Beatson, Dame Imogen Cooper, and Christian Hadland.

Adrian was made an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music in 2021 where he also gives masterclasses as guest professor, alongside a cello class at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.  Increasingly in great demand as a teacher and festival curator, his schedule takes him to academies around Europe and beyond every year.

Adrian Brendel

Image Credit: Jack Liebeck