One of the most respected musicians of today, 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 Mstislav Rostropovich also played a key role in his artistic development.
In 1971, Helmerson won the prestigious Cassadó International Competition in Florence – the first of many distinctions throughout his career.
His numerous tours have taken him to several countries in Europe, as well as Japan, Russia, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
Frans Helmerson has performed as a soloist under the baton of many renowned 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 high praise from critics for his concerts and recordings. His performance of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with Neeme Järvi and the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra was considered "the best available recording on the market." His recording of Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1 is also 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.
In addition to his career as a soloist, chamber musician, and conductor, Frans Helmerson has taught at the Cologne and Madrid Conservatories and was a guest professor at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin. In 2016, he took on the Cello Chair at the Barenboim-Said Academy 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.
