Anja Lechner

One of the most gifted cellists in the world, often bridging the gap between contemporary and traditional, east and west, and arranged and improvisational music
Greg Cahill, Strings, USA
 
Cellist Anja Lechner was born in Kassel, Germany, and studied with Heinrich Schiff and János Starker. Though her roots are classical she speaks of coming from a land of forgotten folksongs where childhood melodies were supplied by Bach, Schubert, and Schumann her musical interests span the globe and embrace a wide range of improvisational traditions. She has described the appeal of folk music as springing from its abundance of songs, songs that tell stories.
[...]
One of the most gifted cellists in the world, often bridging the gap between contemporary and traditional, east and west, and arranged and improvisational music
Greg Cahill, Strings, USA
 
Cellist Anja Lechner was born in Kassel, Germany, and studied with Heinrich Schiff and János Starker. Though her roots are classical she speaks of coming from a land of forgotten folksongs where childhood melodies were supplied by Bach, Schubert, and Schumann her musical interests span the globe and embrace a wide range of improvisational traditions. She has described the appeal of folk music as springing from its abundance of songs, songs that tell stories.
 
Anja Lechners projects for ECM include a long-running artistic collaboration with Argentine bandoneonist-composer Dino Saluzzi (El Encuentro, Navidad de los Andes, Ojos negros and, with the Rosamunde Quartet, Kultrum); music by composer-philosopher G.I. Gurdjieff (Chants, Hymns and Dances), a recording made in partnership Greek pianist Vassilis Tsabropoulos which topped the US classical charts; and, with French pianist François Couturier, music by Komitas, Mompou, and Gurdjieff. From 1992 until it disbanded 18 years later, Lechner was the cellist of the Munich-based Rosamunde Quartet, whose acclaimed ECM New Series recordings include music by Mansurian, Schoeck, Larcher, Webern, Shostakovich, Burian, Haydn, and Yoffe.
Read moreRead less
YEAR DATE Artist VENUE LOCATION
2026 March 14 Anja Lechner / Pablo Márquez Piano di primo Festival Alschwill, Switzerland Event
2026 March 26 Anja Lechner

"Bach-Abel-Hume"

Akademie der schönen Künste Munich, Germany Event
2026 April 15 Anouar Brahem Quartet w/ Django Bates, Mats Eilertsen, Anja Lechner

"After The Last Sky"

Cully Jazz Cully, Switzerland Event
2026 April 22 Anja Lechner

"Bach-Abel-Hume"

Karolinenkirche Rosenheim, Germany
2026 May 01 Anja Lechner

"Bach-Abel-Hume"

ECM Festival Augustinermuseum Freiburg, Germany Event
2026 May 21 Anouar Brahem Quartet w/ Django Bates, Mats Eilertsen, Anja Lechner

"After The Last Sky"

Auditório Ibirapuera São Paolo, Brazil Event
2026 July 11 Anouar Brahem Quartet w/ Django Bates, Mats Eilertsen, Anja Lechner

"After The Last Sky"

North Sea Jazz Festival Rotterdam, Netherlands Event
2026 July 15 Anouar Brahem Quartet w/ Django Bates, Mats Eilertsen, Anja Lechner

"After The Last Sky"

tba Bratislava, Slovakia
2026 July 18 Anouar Brahem Quartet w/ Django Bates, Mats Eilertsen, Anja Lechner

"After The Last Sky"

Festival International De Música Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal
2026 July 19 Anouar Brahem Quartet w/ Django Bates, Mats Eilertsen, Anja Lechner

"After The Last Sky"

Festival International De Música Porto, Portugal
2026 August 31 Anja Lechner

"Bach-Abel-Hume"

Musica Sulle Bocche Alghero, Italy
2026 October 08 Anouar Brahem Quartet w/ Django Bates, Mats Eilertsen, Anja Lechner

"After The Last Sky"

Flagey Brussels, Belgium