GAUTIER CAPUÇON (b. 1981) is a true ambassador of the violoncello in the 21st century. He is one of the most prominent cellists of our time – an artist who combines technical perfection with deep emotionality. The winner of numerous awards, Capuçon captivates audiences around the world with his expressive musical mastery, magnetic artistry, and fiery virtuosity. The deep sound of his 1701 cello, L’Ambassadur, made by Matteo Goflirer, is also impressive.
Each concert season, he plays with leading orchestras and conductors such as Semyon Bychkov, Gustavo Dudamel, Charles Dutoit, Christoph Eschenbach, André Orozco-Estrada, Pablo Heras-Casado, Paavo Järvi, Klaus Mäkelä, Andris Nelsons, and Christian Thielemann. He actively collaborates with contemporary composers such as Lera Averbakh, Wolfgang Rihm, Krzysztof Penderecki, Henri Dutilleux, Jörg Widmann, Danny Elfman, Keegan Chen, Bryce Dessner, Karol Befa, Nicola Campogrande, Bruno Mantovani, Philippe Manoury, Jérôme Ducrot, and others.
He is also deeply committed to the education and support of young musicians. In summer 2020 Capuçon brought music directly into the lives of families across the length and breadth of France during his musical odyssey ‘Un été en France’. The fifth edition of the project, featuring young musicians and dancers, takes place in July 2024. In January 2022 Gautier Capuçon launched his own Foundation “Fondation Gautier Capuçon” to support young and talented musicians at the beginning of their career. Capuçon is also a passionate ambassador for the Orchestre à l’École Association which brings classical music to more than 42,000 school children across France.
Highlights of the 2024/25 season include return visits as soloist to DSO Berlin, Gewandhaus Orchester Leipzig, HR Sinfonieorchester Frankfurt, Oslo Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, and Philadelphia Orchestra, and Wiener Philharmoniker, amongst others. He is soloist on tour throughout Europe with Filarmonica della Scala conducted by Mo.Chailly; and he tours with Evgeny Kissin, Gidon Kremer and Maxim Rysanov in chamber music concerts celebrating Shostakovich’s 50th Anniversary year in 2025. In October 2024, he joins Jean-Yves Thibaudet for a duo-recital tour in Asia, with performances in Seoul, and Hong Kong, followed by two performances in Guangzhou and Bei-jing Music Festival of Richard Dubugnon’s double concerto Eros Athanatos.
Other regular chamber music partners include Frank Braley, Jérôme Ducros, Nikolai Lugansky, Gabriela Montero, as well as Martha Argerich, Daniel Barenboim, Renaud Capuçon, Leonidas Kavakos, Yuja Wang, Andreas Ottensamer, the Labèque sisters and the Ébène, Hagen and Modigliani quartets.
Capuçon regularly plays at festivals worldwide including Edinburgh, Salzburg, Grafenegg and Verbier. The 2022/23 season saw the debut tour of Capuçon’s cello ensemble created with his former students – Capucelli – laureates of La Classe d’Excellence de violoncelle in Paris.
Recording exclusively for Erato (Warner Classics), Capuçon has won multiple awards and holds an extensive discography. His album Destination Paris, released in November 2023, celebrates French music from classical repertoire to film scores and was awarded Opus Klassik award in 2024 in the Performer of the Year Cattegory. 2020’s Warner Classics album Emotions features music from composers such as Debussy, Schubert and Elgar has achieved gold status in France. Further albums exploring short, popular pieces from a range of different genres – including Sensations (released in Autumn 2022) – have generated tens of millions of streams.
Highlights of his back catalogue include the complete Beethoven Sonatas with Frank Braley; an album of Schumann works recorded live with Martha Argerich, Renaud Capuçon and Chamber Orchestra of Europe conducted by Bernard Haitink; Chopin and Franck sonatas with Yuja Wang; and a solo album featuring Bach, Dutilleux and Kodaly. Capuçon has also been featured on DVD in live performances with Wiener Philharmoniker with Andris Nelsons (Saint-Saens’ Cello Concerto No.1) Berliner Philharmoniker with Gustavo Dudamel (Haydn’s Cello Concerto No.1) and with Lisa Batiashvili, Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden and Christian Thielemann (Brahms’ Concerto for Violin and Cello).
Born in Chambéry, Capuçon began playing the cello at the age of five. He studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur in Paris, and later with Heinrich Schiff in Vienna. Now a household name in his native France, Capuçon appears on screen and online in shows such as Prodiges, Now Hear This, Symphony Pour La Vie, and The Artist Academy, and is a guest presenter on Radio Classique in the show Les Carnets de Gautier.
