Gautier Capuçon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gautier Capuçon
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Capuçon in 2015
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| Background information | |
| Born | 3 September 1981 Chambéry, France |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Cello |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Labels |
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| Associated acts | Renaud Capuçon |
Gautier Capuçon (born September 3, 1981) is a famous French cellist. A cellist is a musician who plays the cello, a large string instrument known for its rich, deep sound. Capuçon is celebrated worldwide for his amazing talent and love for classical music.
Contents
About Gautier Capuçon
Early Life and Family
Gautier Capuçon was born in Chambéry, France, on September 3, 1981. He is the youngest of three children. His older brother, Renaud Capuçon, is also a very famous musician who plays the violin.
Musical Education and Training
Gautier started playing the cello when he was just four years old. He also began learning the piano at age seven. He studied music in his hometown at the Ecole Nationale de Musique de Chambéry. There, he won top awards in both cello and piano.
Later, he moved to Paris to continue his cello studies. He learned from important teachers like Annie Cochet-Zakine and Philippe Muller at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris. He finished his studies in Vienna, Austria, with the famous cellist Heinrich Schiff.
Playing with Youth Orchestras
While he was still a student, from 1997 to 1998, Gautier played in two major youth orchestras: the European Community Youth Orchestra and the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester. This gave him the chance to perform under world-famous conductors like Bernard Haitink and Claudio Abbado.
Teaching and Other Talents
Besides being a brilliant cellist, Gautier Capuçon is also a skilled pianist. He enjoys playing jazz piano for fun. Today, he shares his knowledge by teaching young students at the Classe d'Excellence de Fondation Louis Vuitton.
Gautier Capuçon's Cello
His Special Instruments
Gautier Capuçon plays on a very special cello made in 1701 by a craftsman named Matteo Goffriller. This cello is on loan to him, meaning he gets to use it for his performances. He also has another cello, made in 1746 by Joseph Contreras, which is also on loan.
Playing the Goffriller Cello
Gautier has played his Goffriller cello for over ten years. He says that Goffriller cellos can be tricky to play. Each note needs just the right amount of bow pressure and speed to sound perfect. He feels that this challenge helps him explore more and find different ways to make music.
He once mentioned that his "dream" cello would be a Domenico Montagnana instrument. These cellos are known for being easier to play and having a beautiful sound.
Awards and Recognitions
Gautier Capuçon has won many important awards for his musical talent. These awards celebrate his skill and contributions to classical music.
- 1998: Maurice Ravel International Academy of Music Competition - First Prize
- 1999: Adam International Cello Competition - Second Prize
- 1999: André Navarra International Cello Competition - First Prize
- 2001: Victoires de la Musique Classique - New Talent of the Year
- 2004: Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award
- 2004: ECHO Klassik Award - Young Artist of the Year
- 2007: ECHO Klassik Award - Chamber Music Recording of the Year (20th/21st Century)
- 2011: ECHO Klassik Award - Concerto Recording of the Year
- 2012: ECHO Klassik Award - Chamber Music Recording of the Year (19th Century/Mixed Ensemble)
Gautier Capuçon's Music Recordings
Gautier Capuçon has recorded many albums. He used to record exclusively for Virgin Classics and later for Erato Records, which is part of Warner Music Group. His recordings include music for cello with orchestras and chamber music.
Orchestral Recordings
These albums feature Gautier playing the cello with a full orchestra.
- Dvorak – Cello Concerto, 2009
- Herbert – Cello Concerto no.2, 2009
- Haydn – Cello Concertos, 2003
- Brahms – Double Concerto, 2007
- Tchaikovsky – Variations on a Rococo Theme, 2010
- Prokofiev – Sinfonia Concertante, 2010
- Saint-Saëns - Cello Concerto n°1, 2013
- Shostakovich – Cello Concertos, 2015
- Schumann - Cello Concerto, 2019
Chamber Music Recordings
Chamber music is played by a small group of instruments, often without a conductor.
- Ravel – Chamber Music, 2002
- Face à Face: Violin & Cello Duets, 2003
- Saint Saëns – Carnival of the Animals, 2003
- Brahms Piano Trios, 2004
- Schubert – Trout Quintet, 2004
- Inventions: Violin & Cello Duets (Bach, Eisler, Karol Beffa, Bartok, Martinu), 2006
- Schubert Piano Trios, 2007
- Rachmaninov & Prokofiev: Cello Sonatas, 2008
- Fauré: Complete chamber music for strings, 2011
Other Albums and Collaborations
Gautier Capuçon has also appeared on other albums, including live recordings from the Lugano Festival. He often performs with other famous musicians.
- Intuition (2018)
- Emotions (2020)
- Souvenirs (2021)
- Sensations (2022)
- Destination Paris (2023)
He has collaborated on many albums, including:
- 2013: Saint-Saëns: La muse et le poète with Renaud Capuçon
- 2013: Schubert: Arpeggione with Frank Braley
- 2015: Shostakovich: The Cello Concertos with Mariinsky Orchestra
- 2016: Beethoven with Frank Braley
- 2017: Szymanowski Lutosławski with Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
- 2019: Franck - Chopin with Yuja Wang
He also has a DVD:
- 2013: The European Concert - Brahms / Haydn / Beethoven with Berliner Philharmoniker
See also
In Spanish: Gautier Capuçon para niños
