The long-standing cellist joined the orchestra in 1989 and was also a member of the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic
The cellist Christoph Igelbrink has announced his retirement from the Berlin Philharmonic after 36 years.
’Looking toward my retirement, I’m happy about every programme I can play in—especially because, even after 40 years in this orchestra, I’m constantly discovering new things. Our profession is full of stimulation and variety,’ Igelbrink said in an interview on the Berlin Philharmonic website.
Igelbrink began playing the cello aged eleven. He enjoyed success in music competitions, played in various youth orchestras and read biographies of great cellists, which cemented his decision to become a professional cellist from an early age.
At 16, he became a student of Wolfgang Mehlhorn at the Robert Schumann Academy in Düsseldorf, later studying at the Hamburg University of Music and Performing Arts, attending masterclasses with Antonio Janigro and Paul Tortelier.
He joined the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra as principal cellist in 1986. He joined the Berlin Philharmonic in April 1989, weeks before Herbert von Karajan resigned as the orchestra’s principal conductor.
In joining the orchestra, he became a member of the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic. He was also a member of the Athenäum Quartet, the Berlin Philharmonic Piano Trio, and the Philharmonic Octet.
Igelbrink’s career highlights with the Berlin Philharmonic include performances at numerous international venues, opera performances at the Easter Festival, Mahler’s symphonies with Claudio Abbado, the St. Matthew Passion with Simon Rattle, and Mozart’s piano concertos with Daniel Barenboim.
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