General Management

Susanna Stefani Caetani
susanna@onlystage.co.uk

Beniamino Re
beniamino@onlystage.co.uk

Michael Mustillo
michael@onlystage.co.uk

German-speaking countries

Marcus Felsner
marcus@felsnerartists.com

Hailed as one of the most compelling cellists of his generation, Berlin-based cellist Yibai Chen has attracted international attention for his magnetic stage presence, expressive depth, and refined technical command. Critics have described his playing as “nothing short of remarkable,” praising a “flawless technique”combined with “sincere tenderness and sensitivity.” His performances are distinguished by a deeply personal sound and an immediacy of communication that holds audiences in rapt attention. As noted by La Libre Belgique, his playing “came down like a light, taking us to another world” — a testament to transform the concert experience into something both intimate and transcendent. Violinist Daniel Hope has said: “Yibai Chen impressed me enormously from the very first moment I heard him. He is a tremendous talent.” Yibai Chen will give two highly anticipated performances with Daniel Hope in Germany (Munich and Bonn) in May 2026.

This exceptional artistry has been matched by major institutional recognition. In the same season, Yibai’s artistry was recognised by two of the UK’s leading classical music braodcasters. Classic FM named him a 2026 Rising Star, while the BBC selected him a New Generation Artist (NGA), a programme that has supported many of today’s leading international soloists. Together, these honors not only affirm his remarkable musicianship but also signal a strong vote of confidence in his emergence as a significant voice on the global classical stage.

Since his breakthrough victory at the Queen Elisabeth Cello Competition in 2022, Yibai Chen has developed an active international career performing with leading orchestras and conductors worldwide.

He appears with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra performing the Dvorak Cello Concerto and collaborated with the Belgian National Orchestra under Hugh Wolff, playing Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1. He also gave the world premiere of Piet Swerts’ Cello Concerto at the Bozar Concert Hall, conducted by Joshua Weilerstein. His expanding performance profile includes engagements with the Brussels Philharmonic, Warsaw Philharmonic, George Enescu Philharmonic, Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia, Amadeus Chamber Orchestra of Polish Radio, Basel Symphony Orchestra, Czech Chamber Philharmonic, Janáček Philharmonic, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, as well as a tour of Germany with the Hagen Philharmonic Orchestra, among others.

Yibai has collaborated with conductors including Eivind Aadland, Stéphane Denève, Hugh Wolff, Daniel Raiskin, Christian Ehwald, Nikolay Alexeev, Vassily Sinaisky, and Vahan Mardirossian.

His performances have taken him across Europe and Asia, including engagements in China, including an invitation from Maestro Long Yu to perform Philip Glass’s Cello Concerto No. 1 with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. He also gave the Chinese premiere of Korngold Cello Concerto in Beijing with the National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra with Long Yu, including performances of both of Shostakovich’s cello concertos with the National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra under Lawrence Foster, Shanghai Philharmonic, Guangzhou Symphony, alongside renowned Asian conductors such as Muhai Tang, Guoyong Zhang, and Jia Lü.

An avid festival artist, Yibai Chen has performed at many of the world’s most prestigious classical music festivals, including the Chopin and His Europe Festival, George Enescu Festival, Gstaad Menuhin Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival, Con Spirito Leipzig Chamber Music Festival, Stars and Rising Stars Festival, Telavi Music Festival (Georgia), Z+Music Festival (Shanghai Symphony), among others. In addition to his festival appearances, he has toured widely, presenting recital and concerto performances across Belgium, Singapore, South Korea, Czech Republic, and China.

As a chamber musician, he undertook a widely praised tour with pianist Boyang Shi, presenting the complete works for cello and piano by Beethoven in 17 concerts across Asia. The project received enthusiatic acclaim  for its artistic depth, interpretative insight, and remarkable stamina. As Music Weekly China noted, “their interpretation of Beethoven showcases a mastery and depth that transcend their age.”

He has also appeared in duo recital performances with Boyang Shi at Wigmore Hall, and in a recital at Steinway House in Berlin. Following a critically acclaimed solo recital at Victoria Concert Hall in Singapore — described as "a full-blooded performance that had it all" — Yibai Chen went on to give a sold-out solo recital at the Shanghai Concert Hall, establishing  his presence as both a compelling soloist and refined chamber musician on the international stage.

Yibai’s competition achievements further highlight his exceptional talent. In addition to his success at the Queen Elisabeth Cello Competition, he has been a major prize winner at the 2018 Lutoslawski Cello Competition, the 2018 George Enescu Cello Competition, and the 2019 Tchaikovsky Cello Competition, where he made history as the youngest candidate in all categories.

He studied with renowned cello Professor Danjulo Ishizaka at the Music Academy Basel and later completed his Konzertexamen (Doctoral) degree at the University of the Arts Berlin. He currently serves as assistant teacher to Prof. Ishizaka at the Music Academy Basel and is an Artist-in-Residence at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. He is also an ambassador for the world-renowned German publisher Henle Verlag Publishers, known for its scholarly Urtext editions of classical music.

Yibai Chen performs on a cello by Joseph Guadagnini (ca.1780), generously loaned by the Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben Hamburg.

Season 2025/2026