Brazilian cellist Antonio Meneses recently announced that he has been diagnosed with Glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive type of brain cancer. He has withdrawn from all public performances and his teaching position at the University of Bern, and "is currently receiving palliative care in Switzerland, where he lives with his family and friends, who have been an important source of comfort during this difficult time." He made the announcement on social media last July 7.
Born to a musical family in Rio de Janeiro in 1957, Meneses began studying the cello at ten. During a tour in South America, he met the Italian cellist Antonio Janigro who asked him to join his classes in Düsseldorf and then in Stuttgart. He also became part of the Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro at age 11, and at 14, joined the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra.
He won the first prize at the International Competition in Munich in 1977, and gained worldwide recognition five years later when he was awarded the first prize and gold medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.
Meneses has performed with the Berlin Philharmonic, London Symphony, New York Philharmonic, and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestras, among others, and has appeared as a guest at the Salzbourg Music Festival, the Vienna Festwochen, and the Prague Spring Festival.
He regularly gave recitals with pianists Menahem Pressler and Maria João Pires.
He also performed with the Vermer and Amati Quartets, and was a member of the Beaux Arts Trio from 1998 to 2008.
Prior to his diagnosis, the 66-year-old Meneses was scheduled to perform with the Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra under conductor Fabio Mechetti in October, in a concert featuring works by Edward Elgar, Sergei Prokofiev, and Brazilian composer Camargo Guarnieri.
"Antonio Meneses is not only the greatest Brazilian cellist, but also an absolute example of professionalism, humanism and devotion to the cause of classical music," said Mechetti. "We wish him comfort at this time with his family and the certainty of the support of his friends and admirers."
