Brazilian cellist Antonio Meneses, known worldwide as a concert soloist, recording artist, and member of the renowned Beaux Arts Trio, has died at the age of 66. The cause of death was glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Meneses announced his condition as recently as July 7, shocking much of the musical world. As a soloist, he performed with most of the major international orchestras and collaborated with other leading artists over a career that spanned nearly 50 years.
His recordings included two albums on Deutsche Grammaphon with Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic, including Brahms’s Double Concerto with violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, and he recorded Bach’s complete Cello Suites for the label AVIE.
In Brazil, Meneses was celebrated as a champion of Brazilian music on the global stage. He recorded the complete works for cello by Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, and he frequently commissioned and performed new works by contemporary Brazilian composers.
The government of Brazil issued a statement of condolence that read, “The Ministry of Culture is saddened to learn of the death of cellist Antonio Meneses. […] We join his family, friends and admirers of his work in this moment of farewell, but of deep gratitude for his construction and contribution to our culture.”
