Jean-Guihen Queyras’s recordings for harmonia mundi, whether it is Haydn’s concertos on a period instrument,  Dvorak’s cello concerto with the Prague Philharmonia under the baton of Jiří Bĕlohlávek or the beautiful ‘Arpeggione’ with pianist Alexandre Tharaud, have been unanimously acclaimed by the international press. Previously, he had recorded Britten’s solo suites which is still the discographic reference according to Gramophone and BBC Music Magazine. A much awaited Bach’s complete solo suites was released last year to great acclaim and a French collection of pieces by Debussy and Poulenc will be out soon.

As a former soloist of Pierre Boulez’s Ensemble Intercontemporain, Jean-Guihen regularly gives world premieres, a number of which are dedicated to him. He has been invited to return to the Aldeburgh festival where he made his debut with the CBSO in June 2006 and will appear at the BBC PROMS for the first time next year.

Jean-Guihen made his BBC PROMS debut in July 2008.  He performs extensively with internationally renowned orchestras in the most prestigious venues worldwide, and is regularly invited for special concert series including Leif Ove Andsnes’ chamber music series at the Carnegie Hall in May 2005,  ‘Jean-Guihen and friends’ at the Vredenburg in Utrecht (2004/2005 season), ‘Carte Blanche à Jean-Guihen Queyras’ at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam in May 2007 and at the Bijloke Concert Hall in Ghent this season.  He has also formed the Arcanto Quartet with Tabea Zimmermann, Antje Weithaas and Daniel Sepec.

In November 2002, Jean-Guihen Queyras received the City of Toronto Glenn Gould International Protégé Prize in Music from both Pierre Boulez and the Glenn Gould Foundation, and was recently made ‘Instrumental Soloist of the Year’ at the French Classical Music Awards.

Since November 2005, he plays a cello made by Gioffredo Cappa in 1696, on loan from Mécénat Musical Société Générale.

July 2008