Christina Åstrand, Violin
Biography
Born 1969 in Århus, Denmark.
Began playing violin at the age of 4. Commenced her studies with professor Tutter Givskov at the Royal Jutland Conservatory of Music in 1983 – as one of the youngest students ever. Further studies in Paris with professor Gerard Poulet. Soloist Diploma 1990.
Christina Åstrand is one of the most remarkable violinists in Scandinavia. Her career had a big turning point when she – at very short notice – in 1990 performed Sofia Gubaidulina’s violin concerto “Offertorium”. Today she is a frequent soloist with the leading Scandinavian orchestras – always providing a personal interpretation.
She is extremely versatile in terms of repertoire, ranging from the classical concertos to the most contemporary works for violin and orchestra. Several Danish composers have composed and dedicated works to her. She is one of the few violinists in the world who plays György Ligeti´s Violin Concerto. Her recording of Ligeti’s and Per Nørgård´s violin concertos with the DR Symphony Orchestra and Thomas Dausgaard won the Diapason d´Or 2001.
Danish music plays a major role in Christina Åstrand´s repertoire. Her aim is to further the knowledge of Danish music outside Danish borders by her choice of repertoire and with her many CD recordings. Christina Åstrand has recorded several Danish violin concertos and in spring 2009 she releases a CD with violin concertos by the Danish composers N.W. Gade, Lange-Müller and Rued Langgaard, conducted by John Storgårds.
Christina Åstrand is a devoted chamber musician. Since 1995 she has been concentrating her chamber music work in the duo Åstrand/Salo with the pianist Per Salo. In 2007 the duo released a CD with the violin music of Carl Nielsen. The CD won two prizes at Danish Music Awards same year: Chamber Music Release of the Year and P2 Prize - the special prize of the Danish listeners. The duo recently released a CD with the three violin sonatas of the Danish romantic composer N.W. Gade.
1997 Åstrand/Salo formed The Danish Horn Trio together with the French horn player Jakob Keiding. The trio has played in many festivals throughout Scandinavia and Europe. In 2001 they made a recording of the two famous horn trios of Johannes Brahms and György Ligeti. Shortly after its release the CD was chosen as “CD of the Month” by the BBC Music Magazine.
In Denmark Christina Åstrand has received numerous awards and prizes – a.o. The Artist Prize of the Danish Music Critics.
Christina Åstrand was just 22 years old when she was appointed Principal Concert Master with the DR Symphony Orchestra. This is a position she still holds.
Christina Åstrand plays a Stradivarius, 1705.
Copenhagen Artists represents Christina Åstrand in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.