Matthias Bartolomey

Matthias Bartolomey was born in Vienna in 1985. He began learning the cello at the age of seven, initially studying with his father, Franz Bartolomey, before continuing his training with Prof. Valentin Erben at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna from the age of ten. In 2007, he commenced studies with Prof. Clemens Hagen at the Mozarteum University Salzburg, where he graduated with a Master’s degree in 2010. In 2020, Matthias Bartolomey was appointed University Professor at the Mozarteum University Salzburg.

In 2012, he founded the duo BartolomeyBittmann – Progressive Strings together with violinist and mandola player Klemens Bittmann. Performing exclusively original compositions, the duo explores new musical territory beyond the classical traditions of their instruments. Their distinctive style combines the spontaneity and improvisation of jazz with strong groove- and rock-inspired elements, ranging from intimate ballads to fast-paced, virtuosic works. Extensive concert tours have taken the duo to major venues including the Berliner Philharmonie, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Muziekgebouw Amsterdam and the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein, as well as to leading festivals throughout Europe. The duo has released four studio albums and received the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik in 2022 for their album z e h n.

In 2014, Matthias Bartolomey recorded the rarely performed Cello Sonata by André Previn with pianist Clemens Zeilinger; the recording was released on the ARS Produktion label.

His chamber music partners include Benjamin Schmid, Linus Roth, Helmut Deutsch, Ariane Haering, Silke Avenhaus, Magda Amara, Matthias Schorn and Clemens Zeilinger.

Since 2010, he has been solo cellist of the early music ensemble Concentus Musicus Wien, founded by Nikolaus Harnoncourt.

Alongside his concert and teaching activities, Matthias Bartolomey is an active composer, writing original music for the cello with a particular focus on developing groove- and rock-oriented playing techniques. In 2024, he released his first solo album, combining works for solo cello by J.S. Bach with his own compositions. That same year, he was commissioned to write a solo cello work for the National Cello Competition of the Cello Biennale Amsterdam, resulting in the piece Schaduw.

His teaching approach brings together expertise in the classical solo and chamber music repertoire with progressive, intuitive and improvisational elements, placing special emphasis on groove and rock influences.

Matthias Bartolomey performs on cellos by David Tecchler (Rome, 1727) and Philip Bonhoeffer (Montecastelli, 2021), and exclusively uses LARSEN STRINGS.