Matthias Michael Beckmann ranks as a pioneer of the cello: playing a unique 5-stringed cello with a descant E string and a range of five octaves, he is the first musician to perform the entire cello repertoire from Bach to Gulda on a 5-stringed instrument.
"Matthias Michael Beckmann's playing is both elegant and inspired; his tone is rich in subtly differentiated colours, his intonation flawless. The high notes, radiant yet mellow, that he coaxes from his fifth string are truly breathtaking..." (international press critique).
His main focus is on chamber music and solo playing. He is a founder-member of the SALZBURG MOZART QUARTET, with which he has performed worldwide for many years. At home, the Quartet crowned the Salzburg Mozart-Haydn cycle (2000-2006) with a performance of all 23 Mozart string quartets for the Mozart anniversary in 2006. CD recordings document the Quartet's successful career. The cellist has also been greatly influenced through regular collaboration with musicians such as Irena Grafenauer, Pepe Romero, Radovan Vlatkovic, Michael Martin Kofler, Milan Turkovic and Sergio Azzolini, in performances in Salzburg and Schwetzingen, and at international events including the European Music Festival.
As a soloist, Matthias Michael Beckmann is best known for his rendering of works by Haydn, Boccherini, Vivaldi, Dvořák and Gulda, and since 2007 also for premièring works for 5-stringed cello. In addition, he specialises in developing crossover projects on musical and literary themes, such as "Rosenzauber" [rose magic], "Feines Festival der 12 Sinne" [fine festival of the 12 senses] and "Musik & Poesie" with cello and harp.
A native of Nuremberg, Matthias Beckmann was eight years old when he received his first cello tuition from Claus Reichardt; aged ten, he was already a student at the Meistersinger Conservatorium. He later completed his studies at the Academy of Music in Munich, under Walter Nothas, gaining Distinction in the Master Class Diploma. Further artistic stimuli came from Hannelore Leiffolz, Reiner Faupel, William Pleeth, André Navarra and Milos Sadlo.
From 1995 until 2005 Matthias Michael Beckmann played in the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra, most recently under Ivor Bolton. He has also played in other major orchestras, including the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bavarian State Orchestra, Nuremberg State Theatre and Robert Schumann Philharmonic.
His latest CD recordings of the six cello suites and the sonatas for viola da gamba by J. S. Bach have been acclaimed by critics and public alike.
