Orfeo Mandozzi

With his "fascinating musical personality and the enchanting beauty of his tone" (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung), cellist Orfeo Mandozzi has captivated audiences throughout Europe, the USA, Canada, Asia, and South America.

Born in Ticino, Orfeo Mandozzi made his debut as a soloist with an orchestra just four years after starting his cello studies, participating in the Eurovision competition. He has won first prizes in several international competitions, including Johannes Brahms, Osaka, UFAM Paris, Orpheus, and Illzach.

Following studies in cello, composition, and conducting, Orfeo Mandozzi earned degrees with summa cum laude and Mention of Honor from the CNSM Paris Conservatory, the Milan Conservatory, the Juilliard School in New York, and the Vienna Music University. He has collaborated with leading cellists such as Mstislav Rostropovich, Yo Yo Ma, Harvey Shapiro, Daniel Shafran, Paul Tortelier, and Maurice Gendron. His musical and personal connection with Bernard Greenhouse was particularly close, with Greenhouse describing him as "one of the leading cellists of our time."

As a soloist, Orfeo Mandozzi has toured extensively across Europe, the USA, South and Central America, and the Middle East. He has also participated in numerous radio, television, and CD productions. His CD recordings reflect a wide repertoire, including award-winning solo and chamber music recordings. Notably, the world premiere recording of Fiala's concertos, featuring Mandozzi, has sold over 4000 copies worldwide. His playing has been described as "so enchanting that one must hold their breath" (pizzicato).

Orfeo Mandozzi regularly collaborates with musicians such as Nikolaj Znaider, Julian Rachlin, David Garrett, Gérard Caussé, Yuri Bashmet, Itamar Golan, Bernd Glemser, and many others. He has been a member of the Vienna Brahms Trio (with Boris Kuschnir, violin, and Jasminka Stancul, piano) for 28 years.

As a soloist, Orfeo Mandozzi has performed with conductors including Fabio Luisi, Kristjan Järvi, Gerhard Markson, Andrew Litton, Hermann Breuer, Alfred Eschwé, Ola Rudner, Jesus Amigo, Giancarlo Andretta, Filip Bral, Thomas Briccetti, Mario Venzago, Michail Jurowski, Christian Kolonovits, and many others.

In his orchestral career, Orfeo Mandozzi served as principal cellist for the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, followed by 15 years as principal cellist for the Tonkünstler Orchestra Vienna. He also worked as a guest principal cellist at the Zurich Opera. Additionally, he held long-term substitute positions at the Vienna State Opera and the Vienna Philharmonic, collaborating with renowned conductors.

As an arranger, Orfeo Mandozzi has written over 400 arrangements commissioned and performed by prestigious orchestras and chamber music ensembles worldwide. Some of his arrangements have been downloaded over 1 million times on IMSLP.ORG.

Orfeo Mandozzi has performed in major concert halls worldwide, including the Musikverein Wien, Konzerthaus Wien, Cologne Philharmonic, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Stefaniensaal Graz, Wigmore Hall London, Stuttgart Marmorsaal, Casals Hall Tokyo, Izumi Hall Osaka, Auditorio Nat. Madrid, Teatro Colon Buenos Aires, Teatro Montevideo, Tonhalle Zurich, Viktoria Hall Geneva, Michael Paul Hall, Alice Tully Hall Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall New York, and participated in festivals such as the Jerusalem Chamber Music Festival, Salzburg Festival, Israel Cello Congress, Divonne Festival, Festival Cervantino, Festival La Coruna, Masterseries Wigmore Hall, Schubert Festival, Haydn Festival, Vienna Festival Weeks, Ancona Festival, Dubrovnik Festival, Langenargen Festival, Festival Austria, Prague Spring, Festival St. Petersburg White Nights, Musica al Castello Bracciano, St. Petersburg Festival, Richter Festival Moscow, Bregenz Festival, Lockenhaus Festival, Festival di Ravenna, Festival Organistico Magadino, Concerti di Locarno, Ceresio Estate, and many others. His recitals are highly praised and in great demand. After a performance of the Boccherini Sonata, Rostropovich remarked, "Orfeo Mandozzi has the most beautiful Italian cantilena I have ever heard."

In addition to his concert activities, Prof. Orfeo Mandozzi is an internationally sought-after educator. He has held professorships at the Vienna Conservatory, the University of Music and Performing Arts Würzburg, and currently at the Zurich University of the Arts and the Winterthur Conservatory. Students of Professor Mandozzi consistently achieve first prizes in national and international competitions.

Since 2012, Orfeo Mandozzi has been the artistic director of "Live music now" in Zurich, an organization founded by Yehudi Menuhin that continues to bring music to people who have no opportunity to attend concerts. He is also a member and coach at Musethica since 2015.

Orfeo Mandozzi plays a cello crafted by Francesco Ruggeri in 1675 (Cremona).