VC Artist Cellist Benedict Kloeckner Signs with Primavera Consulting

VC Artist Benedict Kloeckner is an internationally acclaimed cellist and has been praised by conductor Daniel Barenboim for his “really remarkable, perfect playing.”

Benedict posted on social media: “Happy to join Primavera Consulting for General management alongside great artists such as Mischa Maisky, Lucas Debargue, Tan Dun and my friend Artyom Dervoed! Excited for the new journey.” 

As a soloist, Benedict has performed with orchestras such as London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Deutsche Radiophilharmonie, Kremerata Baltica, and Munich Chamber Orchestra — alongside conductors including Christoph Eschenbach, Ingo Metzmacher, Michael Sanderling, Clemens Schuldt, Heinrich Schiff, and Sir Simon Rattle.

Benedict’s chamber music collaborators include Emanuel Ax, Lisa Batiashvili, Yuri Bashmet, Christoph Eschenbach, Vilde Frang, Anna Fedorova, Gidon Kremer, Anne Sophie Mutter, and Sir András Schiff.

His upcoming projects include premiering a new cello concerto by Bongani Ndodana-Breen with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra and KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra this year.

He has also been part of concerts raising funds for Ukraine. In light of the war, he recently canceled his Moscow debut recital in Tchaikovsky Hall posting on Facebook his reasoning: “It felt like the wrong message, facing Putin’s cruel and horrible war in Ukraine… I strongly oppose the current climate of canceling all Russian artists and Culture.

“We should not punish, but support the rich and beautiful Russian Cultural Heritage and those who represent the civilized, best parts of the Russian Society, who are against this war as much as we are. Let’s live up to our values that people count — not passports!” he wrote.

Since 2014, he has served as artistic director of the International Music Festival Koblenz (IMUKO) – a program he founded to host concerts with renowned artists and ensembles.

With an extensive discography, his recordings have been nominated for the German Record Critics Award, among others. His latest release is of the six Bach cello suites on Brilliant Classics which he recently toured and will continue to perform in Germany.

Benedict began learning cello with Gabriel Mesado and Martin Rummel. He later studied with Martin Ostertag, Frans Helmerson, and Gary Hoffman. An alumni of the Kronberg Academy, he was also mentored by Kremer, Steven Isserlis, Michael Sanderling, and Schiff. 

He currently plays on a 1680 “Ex Maurice Gendron” cello by Francesco Rugeri – generously on loan from Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben.

PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY | VALSE SENTIMENTALE | BENEDICT KLOECKNER | ALEXANDRA TROUSSOVA | 2020