Friedrich Kleinhapl, an Austrian cellist born on July 14, 1965 in Graz, studied at the Graz University of Music under Janis Chronopoulos and later with Philippe Muller in Paris. His career breakthrough came with the 2001 release of Friedrich Gulda’s Cellokonzert mit Blasorchester (Cello Concerto with Wind Orchestra). Kleinhapl gained recognition through premieres of works by Ed Neumeister, Christoph Cech, Peter Herbert, Dirk D’Ase, and Johannes Berauer. He has performed in major cities worldwide and at notable festivals such as the Vienna Festival and Bregenz Festival. In 2003, Kleinhapl began a partnership with pianist Andreas Woyke, resulting in five CD recordings and international tours. Their album "Rachmaninoff Franck Sonatas" won the Supersonic Award 2008, and Beethoven Sonatas 1-3 received the Excellentia Award 2009. Kleinhapl has played notable instruments from the Austrian National Bank collection, including a Giovanni Battista Guadagnini cello.
