The slogan "Beckmann Plays Cello" has guided the German Cellist Thomas Beckmann for a number of years now, stormily celebrated in many countries. Beckmann lives together with his wife Kayoko Matsushita in the last dwelling of Clara and Robert Schumann in Düsseldorf and maintains the contemporary repertoire as well as classical and romantic cello literature. Beckmann has been spectacularly celebrated on the front-pages of the large German daily papers for his interpretation of Johann Sebastian Bach's works. Since then the modest and seclusively living artists has become the epitome of the cello play into Germany. When Beckmann performs the largest churches and concert halls from Munich to Berlin are sold out. Among other awards the artist has been bestowed with the German Federal Order of Merit and the European Social Prize for his artistic and social commitment.

In the year 1993 Beckmann founded a homeless organization under the slogan "Together against coldness", which promotes meanwhile more than 100 projects in 40 German cities. Beckmann obtains the funding through benefit concerts on nationwide tours without taking fees. Beckmann's distinctive effect on his audience can be seen in the events before a benefit concert for the homeless in the prestigious Munich prince regent theatres. The concert was sold out and more than 500 listeners stood in front concert hall hoping to get a ticket. As many children and youngsters were among those waiting, the artist left the building just minutes before beginning of concert passing the waiting crowd, in order to play for the waiting public in front of the theatre a Sarabande from a Bach Suite. For the elderly and children, the artist had the podium equipped with chairs. A special permission was granted to raise the iron curtain and enable two groups to follow the concert on quickly erected folding chairs. When Beckmann entered the stage with a good hour of delay, the public rose as electrified from the seats, in order to silently welcome the artist. The AZ paper reviewed his concerts: "Every word, trying to reach this magic is derision. One must hear and see this man!"

Beckmann's rise began in the year 1986, when he performed Charlie Chaplin's small works in more than one hundred German television broadcasts, and received the prestigious "Award of German Record Review" for his first record "Oh! That Cello". Since then the musician undertook large concert tours, leading him through all of Europe together with his Japanese wife Kayoko. His CDs are among the most successful cello recordings of the world and have made him know to audiences as far away as Japan. Although Beckmann only performed on the island in the year 2001, numerous fan clubs formed under the title of its first CD "Oh! That Cello", maintaining a true Beckmann cult.Following the success of his brother, the jazz violinist Hannes Beckmann, the artist will have his first public appearance with the Chaplin program in Belgrade. In the first part works Thomas Beckmann and his wife Kayoko will perform works for violoncello and piano, followed by arrangements for cello and orchestra with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra. After the intermission Charlie Chaplin's silent movie "The Vagabond" (1916) will be shown, accompanied by Beckmann and his wife on violoncello and piano - live - like in old days.
The engaged musician, who is considered as the most well known German Cellist, will connect his attendance in Belgrade with discussions on artistic and political level. Above all, he hopes to fascinate his public with the Chaplin's longing melodies and the charm of the vagabond:

"We are coming with our friend Charlie and with him bring we the laughter!"