After his studies with André Navarra and Pierre Fournier Christoph Richter was principal cellist of the Northern Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Günter Wand. An intense collaboration with Sandor Végh and prizes at international competitions such as Paris (Rostropovich) and Geneva led him to the decision to leave the orchestra.
He became professor at the Folkwang University of Arts in Essen (Germany), was member of the Cherubini Quartet and played as soloist with many leading orchestras (including Munich and Tcheque Philharmonic, premiere of a new work by Henze at the Salzburg Festival).
From 2004-09 he was founder-member of the Heine quartet, with whom he recorded a CD with works of Brahms and Janacek, which became CD of the month by the “The Strad” in London.
The solo and chamber music repertoire of Christoph Richter encompasses works by Bach and Boccherini as well as Gubaidulina and Lachenmann. His strong interest in contemporary music has led him to work with composers such as Penderecki, Kurtág, Henze, Lachenmann, Holliger, Reimann and Widmann.
In spring 2009 ECM released his recording of works by Schumann and Holliger with pianist Dénes Várjon. A second CD with the entire works by Brahms and Webern is planned.
2008/09 Christoph Richter played the entire works by Beethoven for cello and piano with pianist Dénes Várjon in London and Budapest.
Since its foundation he is a faculty member of the European Chamber Music Academy (ECMA). He teaches at the Menuhin Academy in Switzerland and the London String Quartet Foundation and gives master classes in various countries.
As juror he was invited to international competitions such as the Haydn competition in Vienna, the Joachim competition in Weimar, the London String Quartet Competition and the Trondheim Competition in Norway.
Christoph Richter has made solo and chamber music recordings for the labels EMI, ECM, Naxos, Tudor, cpo, Wergo and Genuin.
This season 2009/10 upcoming concerts include Milan and Gstaad with Andras Schiff, London und Budapest with Dénes Várjon, Berlin and Salzburg with Isabelle Faust and Thomas Riebl.
Nike Wagner invited him to play the opening recital of the Kunstfest Weimar 2010.
In 2010/11 he will play in Paris (Théâtre des Champs-Élysées) and at the Musikverein in Vienna (Schumann cello concerto). In March 2011 he is artistic director of a festival in London (Kings Place) which honors the composer Heinz Holliger. |
|