»My cello and my music are my home. Even though my roots are in France, I travel all over the world, connecting with people through music. On this journey, a constant companion is my instrument, which is also my voice. I feel its soul – it’s almost like looking in a mirror! Moving around the world with such freedom, I can savour the special quality of every place I visit and the people I meet there. I have many wonderful memories of Dresden. The colours of the city are like the colours of my cello, deep and complex. In my childhood, I listened to many Staatskapelle broadcasts and recordings. Today, performing in the middle of the orchestra and feeling enveloped by the depth and colours of the string sounds, that’s truly a great inspiration! This season we will be playing some of my favourite works, starting with the greatest of all cello concertos, the Dvořák concerto, which for me tells the most poignant and tragic love story of all. This is followed by the wonderful Saint-Saëns Concerto No. 1, a scintillating work full of fire and passion, a French homage to Robert Schumann, whose music helped inspire this work. As Capell-Virtuos, I am honoured to be able to present a part of my musical identity and harmonise this with the rich artistic legacy of the Staatskapelle. For me, the feeling of arrival is always accompanied by a hunk of cheese and a glass of wine. I am sure that the Staatskapelle and I, like that delicate combination, will create a wonderful feeling of arrival for our Dresden concert audiences.«
A true ambassador of the cello, Gautier Capuçon performs with the world’s top orchestras and foremost conductors and instrumentalists. His great intensity and virtuosity have drawn international acclaim. He has collaborated with numerous contemporary composers. Capuçon is also dedicated to fostering and training young musicians through his foundation »Fondation Gautier Capuçon« and is a passionate ambassador for the association »Orchestre à l’École«. The cellist, who records exclusively for Erato (Warner Classics), has an extensive discography of major concertos and works of chamber music, many of which have garnered awards. The album »Emotions«, released by Warner Classics in 2020, has become a gold-selling recording in France. Live performances of Capuçon can also be enjoyed on DVDs, including with the Staatskapelle Dresden under Christian Thielemann (Brahms’s Concerto for Violin and Cello). Born in Chambéry, he began playing cello at the age of five. He studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur in Paris with Philippe Muller and Annie Cochet-Zakine and later with Heinrich Schiff in Vienna, during which time he won numerous prizes. He plays the instrument »L’Ambassadeur«, made by Matteo Goffriller in 1701.
