One of the most respected musicians of our time, Swedish cellist Frans Helmerson began his musical studies with Guido Vecchi in Gothenburg, before continuing his training with Giuseppe Selmi in Rome and William Pleeth in London. Sergiu Celibidache and his mentor Mstislav Rostropovich also played a profoundly influential role in his artistic development.
In 1971, Helmerson won the prestigious Cassadó International Competition in Florence – the first of many distinctions throughout his career. Numerous tours have taken him across Europe, as well as to Japan, Russia, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
Frans Helmerson has appeared as a soloist under the baton of many of the world’s most distinguished conductors, including Seiji Ozawa, Colin Davis, Neeme Järvi, Evgeni Svetlanov, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Herbert Blomstedt, Sergiu Comissiona, Frübeck de Burgos, Kurt Sanderling, and Mstislav Rostropovich, receiving widespread critical acclaim for both his live performances and recordings. His interpretation of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, with Neeme Järvi and the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, has been hailed as “the best recording currently available on the market.” His recording of Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 is likewise highly acclaimed.
Frans Helmerson’s passion for chamber music is another major driving force in his artistic life. He is a regular guest at leading international festivals such as the Verbier Festival, the Pablo Casals Festival in Prades, and the Ravinia Festival, and for many years served as Artistic Director of the Umeå-Korsholm International Chamber Music Festival. In 2002, he founded the Michelangelo String Quartet with Mihaela Martin, Stephan Picard, and Nobuko Imai; in 2012, violinist Daniel Austrich joined the ensemble.
Alongside his career as a soloist, chamber musician, and conductor, Frans Helmerson has held teaching positions at the Cologne Conservatory and in Madrid. Since 2011, he has served as Visiting Professor at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin. In 2016, he took on the Cello Chair at the Barenboim-Said Academy, also in Berlin.
Since 2006, Frans Helmerson has been Principal Cello Professor at the renowned Kronberg Academy in Germany.
He performs on a cello made by Stefan-Peter Greiner.
