David Finckel

Earlier this week the Emerson Quartet announced that longtime cellist David Finckel will be leaving the group at the end of the 2012-13 season.

Finckel joined the Emerson in 1979, three years after the quartet was formed. In a statement Finckel said he is leaving to devote more time to his other musical activities. In addition to being a member of the Emerson, Finckel and his wife, pianist Wu Han, have an active concertizing career as a duo. They are also co-founders and directors of the Music@Menlo festival in northern California and co-directors of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Last year they also started a chamber music festival in Seoul, Korea.

Replacing Finckel will be the well known and highly respected British cellist Paul Watkins.

Paul Watkins (Photo Credit: Nina Large)

As a concert soloist Watkins has appeared with all major British orchestras as well as orchestras throughout Europe and Asia. He has also played in Carnegie Hall.

In addition to his engagements with orchestras, Watkins is also an avid chamber musician, a member of the Nash Ensemble and also a conductor. He has also recorded extensively, and among his releases are Britten’s Cello Symphony, the Delius and Rosza cello concertos and works by Martinu and Mendelssohn.