KLIEGEL, MARIA (b 1952 )

A native of Dillenburg in Germany, Maria Kliegel is one of the leading cello-virtuosi of our time. She took up her studies with Janos Starker at Indiana University in the United States, and won first prize at the American College Competition, at the First German Music Competition and the Concours Also Parisot. After her victory at the Rostropovich Competition in 1981, a series of outstanding international concerts and tours began, with appearances in Basle, with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington and with the Orchestre National de France in Paris, always accompanied by Mstislav Rostropovich conducting. Successful concert events have naturally led to numerous recording sessions for radio, television and for record labels. In 1990, when she recorded Alfred Schnittke’s First Concerto for cello and Orchestra, the Russian composer recognised her interpretation as the standard recording of the work. The critics agreed when Maria Kliegel’s recording appeared on Marco Polo, and later on Naxos. She appears regularly as a guest soloist at venues all over the world, and has an exceptionally wide repertoire, her versatility and interest in exploring newer works stimulating contemporary composers to write music for her to perform, for example Hommage à Nelson by Wilhelm Kaiser-Lindemann, dedicated to Nelson Mandela. As a result of the composition’s success, Maria Kliegel was invited by the South African President to give a private recital in his residence. In November 1998 Maria Kliegel was appointed member of the board of the influential Deutscher Musikrat (German Music Council). In 1999, she was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal State of North Rhine Westphalia by State President Wolfgang Clement. Her interest in the next generation of cellists is reflected in her masterclasses at the Cologne Music Academy since 1986. Maria Kliegel’s many recording for Naxos include concertos and other cello-works by Beethoven, Bloch, Brahms, Bruch, Dohnányi, Dvořák, Elgar, Gubaidulina, Haydn, Lalo, Popper, Saint-Saëns, Schumann, Shostakovich, Tavener and Tchaikovsky. She has also recorded a large volume of recital music by Brahms, Chopin, Dohnányi, Gubaidulina, Kodály, Lalo, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Piazolla and others. In addition to her work with the pianist Nina Tichman, she also collaborates with the violinist Ida Bieler in the Xyrion Trio, established in 2001.

Maria Kliegel plays the legendary “Ex Gendron” cello made by Stradivarius in 1693. For more than thirty years it was owned by Maurice Gendron and was eventually placed at her disposal by the Stiftung für Kunst und Kultur in North Rhine Westphalia.

Albums featuring this artist are available for download from ClassicsOnline.com
20 YEARS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC: Naxos Anniversary Collection (Naxos Denmark)	8.570598
A to Z of Classical Music	8.553362
ANDANTE - Romantic Music for Cello and Orchestra	8.555764
Art & Music: Van Gogh - Music of His Time	8.558068
AUDIO REFERENCE - 24K	8.550481G
BACH, J.S.: Cello Suites Nos. 1-6, BWV 1007-1012 (Complete)	8.557280-81
BANTER: Phadra / Marchenbilder / Prolog 2000	8.223860
BEETHOVEN (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552105-06
BEETHOVEN: Cello Sonatas No. 3, Op. 69 and Op. 64	8.555786
BEETHOVEN: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 and 2, Op. 5 / 7 Variations, WoO 46	8.555785
BEETHOVEN: Cello Sonatas Nos. 4 and 5, Op. 102	8.555787
BEETHOVEN: Triple Concerto, Op. 56 / Piano Concerto in D Major, Op. 61a	8.554288
BEST OF BRITISH	8.570573-74
BEST OF NAXOS 9 (THE)	8.551202
BRAHMS: Cello Sonatas Opp. 38, 78 and 99	8.550656
BRAHMS: Double Concerto / SCHUMANN: Cello Concerto in A Minor	8.550938
CHILL WITH BEETHOVEN	8.556790
CHILL WITH CHOPIN	8.556784
CHILL WITH SCHUBERT	8.556791
CHOPIN (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552107-08
CHOPIN: Cello Sonata / Polonaise Brillante, Op. 3 / Grand Duo	8.553159
CINEMA CLASSICS 1999	8.551183
CLASSICAL INSPIRATIONS, Vol. 2	8.551236
CLASSICS AT THE MOVIES: DIVAS	8.556806
CLASSICS FOR LOVERS	8.570013-14
DEMUS: Sonate poetique / Sonata in C minor	8.225036
Discover the Classics, Vol. 2	8.554246-47
DISCOVER THE CLASSICS, VOL. 3: The Concerto	8.554486-87
DOHNANYI: Konzertstuck for Cello / Cello Sonata / Ruralia Hungarica	8.554468
DVORAK (THE BEST OF)	8.556661
DVORAK (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552139-40
DVORAK / ELGAR: Cello Concertos	8.550503
DVORAK : Best Of Dvorak (The)	8.551111
EASTER ALBUM (AN)	8.570175-76
Elegie: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556612
ELGAR (THE BEST OF)	8.556672
ELGAR (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552133-34
ELGAR: Cello Concerto / Introduction and Allegro / Serenade for Strings	8.554409
FAURE: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 and 2 / Elegie / Romance (Kliegel)	8.557889
Grand Tango and Other Dances for Cello and Piano (Le)	8.550785
GUBAIDULINA: Seven Words / Silenzio / In Croce	8.553557
HAYDN: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 / Sinfonia concertante	8.571034
HAYDN: Cello Concertos Nos. 1, 2 and 4	8.555041
HAYDN: Drei Violoncellokonzerte	8.551059
INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL NZ 2001	8.555883
KAISER-LINDEMANN: Hommage a Nelson M., Op. 27	8.554485
KLASSIK HIGHLIGHTS - Music for the 20th Anniversary of Naxos	8.550020
KLIEGEL, Maria: Virtuoso Cello Showpieces	8.557613
KODALY: Duo for Violin and Cello / Hungarian Rondo / Adagio for Cello / Sonatina	8.554039
KODALY: Three Chorale Preludes / Cello Sonatas Opp. 8 and 4	8.553160
LA CELLISSIMA	8.551094
LALO: Cello Concerto in D minor / Cello Sonata	8.554469
Liebesleid: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556615
LINDE: Violin Concerto / Cello Concerto	8.557855
MENDELSSOHN: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 and 2 / Variations Concertantes	8.550655
Music and Video Club Vol. 2 (UK Only)	8.555082
Music for Kids CD 7: Music from Planet Earth	8.558020
MYSTERY OF AUTUMN (THE)	8.557791
NAXOS 15TH ANNIVERSARY CD	8.555964
NAXOS SELECTION: Highlights	8.571000
POPPER: Romantic Cello Showpieces	8.554657
RACHMANINOV (THE BEST OF)	8.556682
Rhapsody: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556617
SAINT-SAENS: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 / Suite, Op. 16	8.553039
SAINT-SAENS: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 and 2 / Cello Suite	8.557880
Sarabande: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556613
SCHNITTKE: Cello Concerto / Stille Musik / Cello Sonata	8.223334
SCHNITTKE: Cello Concerto / Stille Musik / Cello Sonata	8.554465
SCHUBERT: Arpeggione Sonata / SCHUMANN: Fantasiestucke	8.550654
SCHUMANN : Best of Schumann (The)	8.551112
SCHUMANN, R. (THE BEST OF)	8.556662
SHOSTAKOVICH (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552129-30
SHOSTAKOVICH: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 and 2	8.550813
STOR MUSIK FOR SMA ORON (Big Music for Little Ears) - Children's Music Compilation	8.503156
TAVENER: John Tavener - A Portrait (MCCLEERY)	8.558152-53
TAVENER: Protecting Veil / In Alium	8.554388
TCHAIKOVSKY (THE BEST OF)	8.556652
TCHAIKOVSKY (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552117-18
TCHAIKOVSKY: Variations on a Rococo Theme / BRUCH: Kol Nidrei / BLOCH: Schelomo	8.550519
Ten Years Of Success	8.554103
THE ART OF BERND GLEMSER	8.554135DX
VIRTUOSO CELLO ENCORES	8.557943
Virtuoso Cello Encores (Kliegel)	8.223403