One of the foremost cellists of his generation, Jiří Bárta studied with Josef Chuchro, Boris Pergamenschikow and Eleonore Schoenfeld. Jiří has performed as both chamber musician and concerto soloist with leading artists at major halls and festivals throughout Europe, the Americas, Japan and Australia. He has been featured on national television in most European countries as well as broadcast on many radio stations.

Although he performs on a modern cello Jiří Bárta has always been interested in period instruments and interpretation. He also has a long history of advocating new music, and has premiered works written for him by leading Czech composers such as Petr Eben, Marek Kopelent, Petr Pokorný, Peter Graham and Pavel Zemek.

Jiří Bárta’s recordings include Dvořák’s two cello concertos (both the famous B minor and the first recording, in its original version for cello and piano, with Jan Cech, of the earlier A major); Bach’s Cello Suites; and a live recording of the cello concertos by Dmitri Shostakovich, conducted by Maxim Shostakovich. He also appears on a song-recital disc by Magdalena Kozená on DG, which won a Gramophone Award in 2004, and has made several discs with the Czech violinist Josef Suk.

Jiří comes from an artistic background, his father being a painter and architect, his mother a fine amateur pianist. He is an enthusiastic motorcyclist and enjoys cruising through the Alps. He is also an avid photographer, taking his camera with him on concert tours.