Alban Gerhardt

Cellist Alban Gerhardt has been known for his commitment to unusual repertory and to presenting classical music in unorthodox ways. He has, for instance, been involved in a partnership with Deutsche Bahn, Germany's national railway, wherein he performs live on major German train routes. In 1995, Gerhardt released his debut album, Alban Gerhardt, cello. Increasingly often, Gerhardt has used his growing fame to explore and promote new repertory rather than to emphasize the standard set of cello concertos and chamber music. In 2019, he released a recording of Bach's complete Suites for solo cello. The following year, he joined the WDR Sinfonieorchester and conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste for a recording of the two Shostakovich cello concertos. Gerhardt returned in 2023 with the album Phantasy in Blue, featuring transcriptions for cello and saxophone quartet of works by Gershwin, Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky, and others.