Matthew Barley

British cellist Matthew Barley maintains an uncommonly broad range of musical interests that span the traditional canon, Russian works, and both acoustic and electronic contemporary repertoire, while also venturing into improvisation in a manner rare among classically trained performers. Born in London on May 2, 1965, he studied first at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama before continuing his training at the Moscow Conservatory. That period reinforced a lasting commitment to Russian music, which surfaced early in his London concerto debut when he performed a Shostakovich cello concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra. His time in Russia also led to his marriage to violinist Viktoria Mullova; the couple, who have three children, have appeared together in the cross-genre program The Peasant Girl. Barley has appeared as soloist with leading ensembles such as the Czech Philharmonic, the Netherlands Radio Symphony, and the New Zealand Symphony, performing at venues that include Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw, and Kumho Hall. He has been a regular presence at festivals, among them the event in Abu Dhabi. In 2007 he served as both presenter and music director for the BBC2 series Classical Star. His recital partners have included baritone Matthias Goerne, clarinetist Martin Fröst, and the piano duo Katia and Marielle Labèque, while projects outside the classical sphere have involved keyboardist Jon Lord of Deep Purple, mandolinist Avi Avital, and pianist Nikki Yeoh. The scope of these partnerships reflects the increasingly exploratory direction his work has taken in recent years. His recordings have appeared on Quartz, Avie, and Signum Classics; for the last of these labels he both played cello and conducted Sinfonietta Riga in John Tavener’s The Protecting Veil in 2019.