Biography

South African/Belgian cellist, Peter Martens, Is currently principal cellist with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and Director of the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival. He also lectures in cello performance at Stellenbosch University and teaches a class of talented cellists in Maputo, Mozambique.

Of a recent performance of Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations (original version) in London, the critic Frances Wilson wrote that this performance “combined understated virtuosity […]  with a delightful interplay between soloist and ensemble. Peter Martens’ tone was rich and colourful, balancing wit with seriousness to create a performance of great variety, character and warmth.”

His latest CD on the “Cello Classics” label of concertos by Saint-Saëns and Vieuxtemps with Bernhard Gueller and the CPO prompted Andy Wilding to write, “Martens’ cello is one of the most beautiful sounds – a deep rich harmonic wooden stringed singing being. His playing is superb, compassionate elegant phrasing, and flawless technique. His bow knows the exact line between the tender softness and the hard edge, and this extra dimension is masterfully applied to his dynamics. He expresses a full range of emotion, from angst and agitation to acceptance and wisdom”.

Martens and Portuguese pianist, Luis Magalhães, won a Classical Music SAMA for their recording of the complete Sonatas for Cello and Piano by Beethoven. Joanne Talbot of the Strad Magazine wrote, “Martens delivers brilliantly incisive and spirited accounts of all these works.”

Of his CD of the Bach Cello Suites, Robin Stowell, of the Strad Magazine wrote, “Peter Martens’s interpretations are thoughtfully prepared and generally commendably executed, balancing modern performance practices with the simple clarity of period style. […] Martens brings aristocratic poise, poetry and rhythmic flexibility to the preludes. […] His courantes are generally fast and light and his sarabandes are profound and freely contemplative. […] Martens is playful in the gallantries, giving spring to the pairs of menuets in nos. 1 and 2, playing the bourées in mischievous vein […] and injecting the gavottes with a sense of fun.”

Concerto engagements have resulted in collaborations with a number of fine conductors including Victor Yampolsky, Bernhard Gueller, Douglas Boyd, Nicholas Cleobury, Wolfram Christ and Jonas Alber. In addition to copious concerts in his native South Africa, he has participated in festivals in France, Russia, Holland, Salzburg, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Portugal as well has having performed in Germany, the UK, USA and Belgium.

Highlights in recent years have included a performance of the Elgar Cello Concerto with Bernhard Gueller and the CPO in their first Cyber Symphony Series at the height of Covid-19; the Schubert Quintet with the Brodsky String Quartet in London; several performances of the Gulda Cello Concerto; various chamber music performances with pianist, Leslie Howard; several performances of the six Bach Cello Suites; a performance of a C.P.E. Bach cello concerto with the Orfeo Chamber Orchestra in Antwerp and a performance of the Beethoven cello sonatas for the Salzburger Schloßkonzerte with pianist Ariane Haering.

Many South African composers have written for him, the most notable composition being the Cello Concerto by Allan Stephenson, which he recorded for Meridian Records with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. He has subsequently given the world premiere of Peter Klatzow’s sonata for cello and piano both in South Africa and in Cambridge. A recent performance of Klatzow’s sonata at the Leeds International Concert Series was broadcast worldwide via live streaming.