Raphael Flieder was born into a musical family in Vienna, and received his first cello lessons from Richard Matuschka-Eisenstein at the Vienna Conservatory. After passing his diploma with distinction, he continued his studies with Pierre Fournier in Geneva and with Eberhard Finke at the Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic. In 1979 he won the Bronze Medal at the Geneva International Music Competition.
From 1985 to 1990 Raphael Flieder was principal cellist in the Tonkunstler Orchestra of Lower Austria. In 1990 he joined the orchestra of the Vienna State Opera. Since 1993 he has been a member of the Vienna Philharmonic, where he is leader of the cello section. From 2004 to 2018 he was also a member of the Wiener Hofmusikkapelle.
Chamber music has always played a vital role in Raphael Flieder’s career. His chamber activities focus especially on music of the 20th and 21st centuries, and he is an active member of groups including Ensemble Kontrapunkte and the ensemble die reihe.
