With his “fascinating musical personality and the captivating beauty of his tone” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung), Orfeo Mandozzi has mesmerized audiences throughout Europe, the United States, Canada, Asia, and South America.
Born in Ticino, Orfeo Mandozzi made his debut as a soloist with orchestra at the Eurovision Competition only four years after beginning his cello studies. He won first prizes at several international competitions, including Johannes Brahms, Osaka, UFAM Paris, Orpheus, and Illzach. He went on to study cello, composition, and conducting, graduating with highest honors (summa cum laude and Mention of Honor) from the CNSM Paris, the Milan Conservatory, The Juilliard School in New York, and the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.
Orfeo Mandozzi worked regularly with leading cellists such as Mstislav Rostropovich, Yo-Yo Ma, Harvey Shapiro, Daniel Shafran, Paul Tortelier, and Maurice Gendron. In addition to a long-standing professional collaboration with Boris Kuschnir, he shared a close musical and personal relationship with Bernard Greenhouse, who stated: “Orfeo Mandozzi could be one of the leading cellists of our time.”
His international solo career includes tours throughout almost all European countries, the United States, South and Central America, and the Middle East, as well as numerous radio, television, and CD productions. His recordings, in particular, reflect the breadth of his repertoire and include award-winning solo and chamber music performances. The world premiere recording of the concertos by Fiala alone has sold more than 4,000 copies worldwide. His playing has been described as “so captivating that it takes one’s breath away” (pizzicato).
Orfeo Mandozzi performs regularly with Nikolaj Znaider, Julian Rachlin, David Garrett, Gérard Caussé, Yuri Bashmet, Itamar Golan, Stefan Vladar, and many others. He is also a member of the Vienna Brahms Trio (with Boris Kuschnir, violin, and Jasminka Stancul, piano) and of the Philharmonic Five.
As a soloist, Orfeo Mandozzi has performed with conductors including Fabio Luisi, Kristjan Järvi, Andrew Litton, Mario Venzago, Mikhail Jurowski, Andres Orozco-Estrada, Philippe Entremont, and many others.
He has appeared in most of the world’s major concert halls, including the Musikverein and Konzerthaus Vienna, Cologne Philharmonie, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Wigmore Hall London, Tonhalle Zurich, Victoria Hall Geneva, Alice Tully Hall and Carnegie Hall New York, as well as at major international festivals. His recitals are highly acclaimed and in great demand. After a performance of a Boccherini sonata, Rostropovich remarked: “Orfeo Mandozzi has the most beautiful Italian cantilena I have ever heard.”
In addition to his outstanding interpretations of the standard repertoire, Orfeo Mandozzi is deeply committed to rediscovering unjustly neglected works, including compositions by Nino Rota, Lalo, van Goens, Fiala, and Malzat, and collaborates with contemporary composers.
Orfeo Mandozzi regularly gives masterclasses in Europe and beyond. He has held various professorships and is currently Professor at the Zurich University of the Arts and at the Accademia di Imola “Incontri col Maestro” in Bologna. His students regularly win national and international competitions and hold positions in orchestras and educational institutions.
Orfeo Mandozzi performs on a cello built by Francesco Ruggeri in 1675 (Cremona)
