for cello, by cellists Ben Michaels

• Jakob Kullberg (b. 1976): Single the Sky - A Fever Dream:
• 1 Kullberg: Single the Sky - A Fever Dream 08:05
• Laura Moody: Mandala:
• 2 Moody: Mandala 09:54
• Ayanna Witter-Johnson (b. 1985): Amethyst Sings:
• 3 Witter-Johnson: Amethyst Sings 06:16
• Zoë Martlew: Inila:
• 4 Martlew: Inila 11:53
• Kit Downes (b. 1986): Kasei Valles:
• 5 Downes: Kasei Valles: I. 02:50
• 6 Downes: Kasei Valles: II. 02:38
• 7 Downes: Kasei Valles: III. 02:41
• Colin Alexander (ca. 1527 - 1612): Towards the Flame:
• 8 Alexander: Towards the Flame: I. 05:37
• 9 Alexander: Towards the Flame: II. 07:24
• 10 Alexander: Towards the Flame: III. 02:19
• 11 Alexander: Towards the Flame: IV. 03:27
• Total Runtime 01:03:04

Info zu for cello, by cellists

Auf seiner ersten Soloaufnahme präsentiert Ben Michaels sechs eigens in Auftrag gegebene Werke, die alle von anderen Cellisten komponiert wurden, deren kreatives Schaffen weit über die herkömmlichen Grenzen der Instrumentalmusik hinausreicht. Die Komponisten, Improvisatoren, Theatermacher und Songwriter Jakob Kullberg, Laura Moody, Ayanna Witter-Johnson, Zoë Martlew, Kit Downes und Colin Alexander nähern sich dem Cello jeweils aus einer ganz eigenen künstlerischen Perspektive und erschließen so unerwartete Möglichkeiten dieses vertrauten Instruments.

Die daraus entstandenen Werke unterscheiden sich stark in Umfang, Ausdrucksweise und Technik: Lyrische Melodien stehen neben geflüsterten Klangtexturen, choreografierten Bewegungen und eindrucksvollen neuen Klangwelten. Doch hinter dieser Vielfalt verbirgt sich ein gemeinsames Verständnis für den physischen und expressiven Charakter des Cellos. Zusammen bilden sie ein Porträt des Instruments, betrachtet durch sechs individuelle Vorstellungswelten – Musik, die nicht nur von Cellisten geprägt ist, sondern von Künstlern, die erforschen, was das Cello im 21. Jahrhundert werden kann.

Ben Michaels, Cello

Ben Michaels
is a British cellist based in London, passionate about exploring all the ways the cello can be made useful to music.

Ben is equally likely to be found playing historical, modern or prepared instruments. In the last year, he has performed baroque opera with The English Concert, Berlioz with Simon Rattle and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Mozart piano concerti with András Schiff and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and world premieres with London Sinfonietta at the Cervantino Festival in Mexico.

He is committed to celebrating the creation of new music, regularly working with composers to premiere or commission new works. His debut solo album - for cello, by cellists - will be released by Delphian Records in September 2026; 6 newly commissioned solo works written by different cellist-composers. He was awarded the inaugural Keith Harvey Award by the British Cello Society in support of this project. Three years later he was invited to become an executive board member of the Society, to encourage other cellists to explore new music.

He is grateful for a musical life in which he enjoys collaborations that continually shape his way of playing. Previously, he studied at the Royal Academy of Music where he had regular lessons with Felix Schmidt, John Myerscough and Joseph Crouch. Long before making the decision to study and follow his passion in music, he was particularly thankful for the patience of his father, Joel Michaels, who taught him until he was a teenager.

Ben plays on a Gaetano Gadda cello, generously provided on loan by an anonymous benefactor.

Booklet für for cello, by cellists