Julius BERGER

The Augsburg-born cellist Julius Berger has been a permanent feature of the music scene for more than 30 years. That is not just because he is a wonderful musical interpreter who was dubbed the “prophet of the cello” by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung following his second recording of Bach’s cello suites. He is also in worldwide demand as a soloist and chamber musician, has released a large number of CDs and trains leading next generation musicians. He initially taught at Würzburg, Saarbrücken and Mainz but has now been teaching at the Augsburg University of Music since 2000, as well as giving international masterclasses – for example, at the International Mozarteum Summer Academy in Salzburg since 1992.

He is Artistic Director of the Eckelshausen Music Festival and the Asiago Festival in Italy, is in charge of the International Leopold Mozart Competition in Augsburg and the International Competition in Markneukirchen, Germany, and as a jury member at various international competitions.

His research interests focus on cello works by Boccherini and the first literature for violoncello by Gabrielli a.o., some of which are still unknown.

However, Julius Berger is also well known for his great commitment to contemporary music by John Cage, Franghiz Ali-Sade and Sofia Gubaidulina, some of whose works – along with those of other contemporary composers – he has premiered and recorded. (www.juliusberger.de)