Matthias Ranft

Matthias Ranft / Cello Matthias Ranft was born in Hamburg and started taking cello lessons at the age of seven. While still in high school he enrolled as a student of Arthur Troester at Hamburg University of Music. Later he studied with Christoph Henkel in Freiburg im Breisgau and with Janos Starker on a German Academic Exchange Scholarship in Bloomington, Indiana. Before taking his final exam at Freiburg University of Music in 1985, he gained initial orchestral experience playing solo cello in the Hof Symphony (1981-83) and won the Mendelssohn Competition in Berlin (1984). Since 1985 he has played in the Bamberg Symphony (Bavarian State Philharmonic), serving as its principal cellist. On the side he regularly takes part in international festivals such as Affinis (Japan), concertizes in chamber formats (e.g. the Abraxas Ensemble), holds recitals with Jörg Widmann and Frank Peter Zimmermann, and gives solo performances under Gilbert Varga, Roger Norrington, Adam Fischer, Lawrence Renes, and Jonathan Nott. His playing is documented on many broadcast recordings and CD releases. He communicates his experience of music by teaching at Freiburg University of Music (2001-04) and at international master classes in Japan. Matthias Ranft plays an instrument built by Giovanni Grancino in 1695.
Tomoko Ogasawara / Piano Tomoko Ogasawara began her studies of the piano at the State University of the Arts in her native Tokyo. She then continued at Berlin University of the Arts and Freiburg University of Music, where she took a performance degree with distinction and won first prize at the German University Competition. Among her formative teachers were Georg Sava, Tibor Hazay, and György Sebök, all of whom accompanied her in her early artistic successes, including finalist status at the Maria Canals Competition (Barcelona) and the Clara Haskil Competition (Montreux). Since then she has made regular guest appearances in concert halls all over the world (including Berlin, Montreux, London, Paris, Tokyo, Jerusalem, Bangkok, and Shanghai), concertized with musicians of the stature of Albrecht Mayer, Jörg Widmann, and Tabea Zimmermann, and appeared in chamber recitals (e.g. with the Abraxas Ensemble) and at international festivals (e.g. Affinis in Japan).
She has many broadcast recordings and CD releases to her credit. In the 2006-07 season she performed a complete cycle of Mozart’s piano sonatas. She currently communicates her experience of music by teaching at Freiburg University of Music and holds master classes in Tokyo on a regular basis.