Marc Coppey

Recognised for his celebrated interpretations as a soloist, his extensive exploration of chamber music with some of the finest musicians today, and a dedication to widening the cello literature, Marc Coppey is considered to be one of the world’s leading cellists.

A protégé of Lord Yehudi Menuhin and Mstislav Rostropovich, Coppey first shot to international acclaim at the age of 18, winning First Prize and ‘Prize for the Best Bach Performance’ at the prestigious Leipzig Bach Competition (1988). Soon thereafter, Coppey has carved out an impressive solo career to date, working regularly with many of the world’s finest orchestras and conductors – including, amongst others, Alain Altinoglu, Lionel Bringuier, Lawrence Foster, Alan Gilbert, Kirill Karabits, Emmanuel Krivine, John Nelson, Pascal Rophé, Yan Pascal Tortelier, and Yutaka Sado. He was made Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French Cultural Ministry in 2014. The 2020/2021 season marks Coppey’s first year as Artist-in-Residence with the Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música.

Marc Coppey is a passionate chamber musician and former member of the Ysaÿe Quartet (1995-2000). He now serves as Artistic Director of the annual Festival Les Musicales de Colmar. The breadth of Coppey’s repertoire is a testament to his profound musical curiosity: alongside mainstream cello literature, he is a champion of lesser-known and contemporary works. He has given the world premieres of cello concerti by such celebrated composers as Jacques Lenot, Marc Monnet, Eric Tanguy, and the French premieres of works by Elliott Carter, Mantovani, and Erkki-Sven Tüür. Amongst those composers to have dedicated works to Coppey are such leading voices as Lera Auerbach, Christophe Bertrand, or Hugues Dufourt.

Coppey’s recent releases (for Audite) include the complete works for cello and piano by Beethoven (with pianist Peter Laul), cello concerti by CPE Bach and Haydn (with the Zagreb Soloists), and works for cello and orchestra by Bloch and Dvořák (with DSO Berlin/Kirill Karabits). His next release on the label is the Shostakovich cello concerti, recorded live in concert with Polish Radio Symphony/Lawrence Foster, and streamed worldwide by Medici.tv.

Coppey is a Professor at the Conservatore National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, and is regularly invited to give masterclasses across Europe, Asia, and both North & South America. Since October 2020, he is the Artistic Director of the Saline Royale Academy d’Arc-et-Senans. Marc Coppey performs on a cello by Matteo Gofriller (Venice, 1711), known as the ‘Van Wilgenburg’.