Vita

Benedict Kloeckner

Standing ovations in many of the world’s most prestigious concert halls — from Carnegie Hall in New York to the Berlin Philharmonie — performances before tens of thousands of concertgoers each year, and millions of views across digital platforms have established Benedict Kloeckner as one of the leading cellists of today.

Renowned for his unmistakable artistic voice, the richness of his sound and the emotional depth of his interpretations, Kloeckner has built an international career distinguished by artistic excellence and an exceptional ability to connect with audiences. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung praised his “subtle, elegiac and finely cultivated cello tone”, Süddeutsche Zeitung his “warm, speaking cello sound”, while The Strad described his playing as possessing an “addictively sensuous sound”. Gramophone highlighted the “brightness of sound and firm architectural grasp” of his recording of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with Cristian Măcelaru, while Welt am Sonntag called him “one of the most exciting cellists of his generation.”

At the heart of Kloeckner’s artistry lies a profound belief in music’s power to move, inspire and create unforgettable experiences that remain with audiences long after the final note has faded.
As concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber musician, Kloeckner appears regularly with leading orchestras throughout Europe and Asia, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, NDR Radiophilharmonie, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Kremerata Baltica, MDR Symphony Orchestra and Munich Chamber Orchestra. He has worked with distinguished conductors including Daniel Barenboim, Sir Simon Rattle, Christoph Eschenbach, Cristian Măcelaru, Michael Sanderling and Ingo Metzmacher.

His performances have taken him to many of the world’s foremost concert halls, among them the Berlin Philharmonie, Carnegie Hall in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Musikverein Vienna, Tonhalle Zurich and Concertgebouw Amsterdam. Equally sought after as a chamber musician, he has shared the stage with artists including Emanuel Ax, Sir András Schiff, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Lisa Batiashvili and Gidon Kremer.

Highlights of the 2026/27 season include recital appearances at the Berlin Philharmonie, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Tonhalle Zurich, Konzerthaus Vienna, Liederhalle Stuttgart, Baden-Baden and Paris; performances of both Haydn Cello Concertos with the Deutsches Kammerorchester Berlin in the Great Hall of the Berlin Philharmonie; an appearance with the Prague Philharmonic at Cologne Philharmonie; and his debut with the NCPA Orchestra in Beijing.

Recording forms an important part of Kloeckner’s artistic work. His recordings are released by Berlin Classics and Sony. His interpretation of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with Grammy Award-winning conductor Cristian Măcelaru and the Romanian Chamber Orchestra received international acclaim. Current projects include the world-premiere recording of Kjell Flem’s Cello Concerto with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin under Markus L. Frank and a new Schubert–Mendelssohn album with Yu Kosuge for Berlin Classics.
His discography also includes the Brahms Sonatas and the complete Bach Cello Suites, which he has presented in complete concert cycles at the Berlin Philharmonie, Munich Residenz and Alte Oper Frankfurt.

Beyond the concert stage, Kloeckner is deeply committed to artistic leadership and the development of the next generation. As Founder and Artistic Director of the International Music Festival Koblenz (IMUKO), he has spent more than a decade bringing together internationally renowned artists and outstanding young musicians. The festival has welcomed artists including Myung-Whun Chung, Cristian Măcelaru, Augustin Dumay and the Modigliani Quartet. He also serves as Artistic Director of the Paul Juon Festival in Nyon, Switzerland.

Contemporary music is another important part of his artistic identity. Kloeckner has given world and national premieres of works by Wolfgang Rihm, Dai Fujikura, Eun Hwa Cho and Eric Tanguy, collaborating closely with leading composers and contributing to the expansion of today’s cello repertoire.
Kloeckner studied with Martin Ostertag at the Karlsruhe University of Music before continuing his education at Kronberg Academy with Frans Helmerson and Gary Hoffman.

He is Professor of Cello at the École Normale de Musique de Paris.

As President of the International Violoncello Society e.V., he is dedicated to supporting, mentoring and inspiring exceptional young cellists and helping shape the next generation of international artists.