Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt

Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt is one of Germany’s leading cellists and a sought-after conductor. A prizewinner at the Rostropovich, Tchaikovsky and Leonard Rose Competitions, he has appeared as soloist with top orchestras including the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Sinfonia Varsovia, Tokyo Symphony, and the Houston Symphony, under conductors such as Charles Dutoit, Marek Janowski and Jiri Belohlavek. A dedicated chamber musician, he has shared the stage with artists like Lang Lang, Emanuel Ax, Gil Shaham and Leonidas Kavakos, and was a former member of the Chamber Music Society Two of Lincoln Center. His recordings on Sony Classical and Capriccio have earned critical acclaim, including a Diapason d’Or and the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik. Schmidt is also founder and principal conductor of Metamorphosen Berlin, an ensemble with its own concert series at the Konzerthaus Berlin. He appears regularly in a dual role as conductor and soloist. He plays a Matteo Goffriller cello once owned by Hugo Becker.