news

26 January 2010
Copenhagen Artists Expands - New Conductors!
Copenhagen Artists are extremely pleased to announce that we are expanding our roster significantly with four new conductors.

ANDREAS DELFS was chief conductor in Hannover for five years, conducting both opera and symphonic repertoire. In 2000 lengthy engagements with a.o. St.Paul's Chamber Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and a chief conductor position with Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra followed. He has conducted at the Royal Opera, Stockholm and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra on several occasions. Mo. Delfs was appointed chief conductor of Honolulu Symphony Orchestra in 2007. He frequently collaborates with world star soprano Renée Fleming.

JOHANNES GUSTAVSSON is one of Sweden's leading young conductors. Equally at home in symphonic and operatic repertoire, he has conducted all the Swedish orchestras and major opera houses on a regular basis. His repertoire is extensive and he has premiered more than 30 works by Nordic composers.

DMITRI KITAJENKO formerly chief conductor of Bergen Philharmonic, Norway and principal guest conductor of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. He conducts orchestras all over the world, which in addition to leading American orchestras include Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Bayerischer Rundfunk, the Munich Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw, Santa Cecilia di Roma and Orchestra della Scala di Milano.

MARC SOUSTROT is a well known figure in Northern music life. He conducts both opera and symphony orchestras regularly in the whole region, though in later years he has been concentrating more on opera. He is considered a specialist in French music and has made numerous recordings including choral, orchestral and operatic works.

16 December 2009
Pianist Niklas Sivelöv Performs in New York
Niklas Sivelöv, one of Sweden's leading pianists is experiencing international success. After a highly successful recital in Dortmund, Germany he is scheduled to play J.S. Bach's Das Wohltemperierte Klavier Book 1 and 2 in legendary Bargemusic, New York City in January. This gigantic work will be performed over three concerts.

Earlier this year Niklas Sivelöv was as the first Swede ever awarded both the jury and public prize of the Independent Music Award. Former prize winners include famous and highly estimated artists as Norah Jones, Tom Waits and Peter Gabriel.

He is also the first Swede pianist to be elected for Steinway’s Hall of Fame in Hamburg.

14 December 2009
Welcome to Two New Artists
Copenhagen Artists Welcome Ttwo New Artists
The renowned recorder player Michala Petri has joined Copenhagen Artists. Since the age of 4 Michala Petri has performed in public and she is always keen to include new music in her repertoire and a large number of contemporary composers have written and dedictated music to her. Michala Petri is playing on new instruments and her extensive repertoire now includes music by several Chinese composers.

Alexander Sitkovetsky is an extremely talented and promising violinist who has so far performed only twice in Denmark playing chamber music and Prokofiev Violin Concerto no. 1 with Aarhus Symphony Orchestra - both times with great success. He is enrolled in the prestigious Kronberg Academy and he performs with musicians like Julia Fischer, Mischa Maisky, Bella Davidovich, Natalie Clein and Maxim Rysanov on a regular basis. He has debuted with the Netherlands Philharmonic in the Concertgebouw and was immediately reinvited. We are looking forward to collaborating with Michala Petri and Alexander Sitkovetsky.

15 October 2009
Sensational Debut
Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen – concert master in Copenhagen Philharmonic/Tivoli Symphony Orchestra, violinist in the Danish String Quartet and fiddler with a background in folk musik from the Faroe Islands - made a very successful debut on 12 October. The press wrote: ’Energetic, surprising and profoundly original in expression - Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen debuted with style in a full concert hall’.

The concert did not only reflect his format as classical violinist, but it also uncovered his wide-ranging musicality and interests. The Royal Academy Concert Hall was packed and there were great expectations for the evening's impressive programme. Opening piece was Stravinsky's Suite Italienne, accompanied by Professor Niklas Sivelöv himself, and it was followed by Mozart's Violin Concerto nr. 5 in A Major without conductor. Rune played with his 'own' orchestra which offered no less than 4 principal violinists with Professor Sergej Azizian as concert master, in the first violin section. In the cadenza of the 3rd. movement, the soloist left his position in front of the orchestra, and the rest of the cadenza was performed with two folk musicians. Mozart's themes could be heard as both reels og waltzes until the concerto was concluded with Mozart's original score. The stunt brought the house down.

After the interval Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen played Carl Nielsen's Violin Concerto, and his performance was received with standing ovations. He expressed his gratitude to the audience with two folk melodies, which he played with his folk music group. It was truly a debut and a musician out of the ordinary.

23 September 2009
Welcome to Olli Leppäniemi and Carion
Copenhagen Artists are pleased to announce that new artists have been added to our roster. Winner of the International Clarinet Competition Finnish OLLI LEPPÄNIEMI is a young player making an international name for himself. He has recently been appointed solo clarinettist of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. He is an eager chamber musician and is already engaged to play concerts with Trio con Brio Copenhagen.

The CARION WIND QUINTET is an outstanding ensemble based in Denmark and with players from Latvia, France and Denmark as members. The quintet is extremely versatile and plays music from all periods, particularly from our own time. Believing that all music is communicated better when free of the written score, the Carion Quintet learns their repertoire by heart and disposes of both music stands and parts when performing. It gives the audience a unique experience.

23 September 2009
Royal Prize I
On the evening of Friday September 18 VILDE FRANG was awarded the Queen Ingrid Honorary Prize of DKK 250 000 in Tivoli Concert Hall, Copenhagen. The prize was presented by Her Royal Highness Queen Margrethe II and her two sisters Princess Benedicte and Queen Anne Marie. Tivoli's music director Nikolaj Koppel gave a speech motivating the Royal Family's choice of Vilde as recipient for 2009. He emphasised that Vilde has successfully managed the transition from child prodigy into grown musician. Her exceptional talent has always been obvious, and she is now standing on the brink of an impressive international career. She is awarded the prize to ensure that she is given the most favourable and comfortable circumstances to develop her talent further.
Queen Ingrid passed away in 2000. In 2005 the Society for Common Good in Memory of Queen Ingrid was founded by her three daughters. The prize is awarded every other year to young ballet dancers and musicians.

CD Debut
Only shortly before Vilde Frang received the honorary prize, her debut CD on the EMI label was released. She has recorded concertos by Sibelius and Prokofiev with WDR Sinfonieorchester Cologne conducted by Thomas Søndergård. The recording is released first in Scandinavia and will be on the market in the rest of Europe later this autumn. The CD has already been reviewed in several newspapers and it has been received most favourably.

23 September 2009
Royal Prize II
On Saturday 19 September ANDREAS BRANTELID received the Cultural Prize awarded by the Crown Prince Couple at a spectacular event in the Danish Radio Concert Hall, Copenhagen. Andreas Brantelid first played the third movement of Chopin's Cello Sonata accompanied by Marianna Shirinyan. After receiving the prize, which was awarded personally by Crown Prince Federik and Crown Princess Mary, he expressed his sincere gratitude for this great honour. He emphasised the fact that he felt particularly pleased that this magnificent prize should go to him and to classical music. He then played Elgar Cello Concerto with the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by James Gaffigan. The concert was broadcast direct by Danish Television and Radio.

15 September 2009
Soprano Ann-Helen Moen Joins Copenhagen Artists
ANN-HELEN MOEN - Norwegian lyric soprano has joined Copenhagen Artists. Previously she has been company principal at the Opera Graz. Her repertoire now includes Pamina (Zauberflöte), Semele and Almirena (both w. William Christie at the Zürich Opera), Poppea, Countess (Figaro) , Michaëla (Carmen), and Tatjana (Onegin) . She sang Laura W. in The Glass Menagerie (Bibalo) and Scottish Margrete in the world premiere of The Maid of Norway.
She made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2005 during The Leif Ove Andsnes Project. She is also a sought after concert-singer, her repertoire includes the majority of oratorios and the requiems of Brahms and Dvorak.
With pianist Gunilla Süssmann ANN-HELEN MOEN has recorded 26 songs of 19th century Norwegian composer Catharinus Elling. The CD will be released in autumn of 2009 on SIMAX.

14 September 2009
A Successful Season for Trio con Brio Copenhagen
Trio con Brio Copenhagen can with satisfaction look back at a very successful season. The trio has toured in the United States, Germany and the UK in addition to giving concerts all over Denmark. The trio has released a recording of Mendelssohn's Piano Trios which has been nominated by Danish Music Awards for the best chamber music release.
The press wrote:
'Open your eyes and experience an unforgettable vision of black, green and turquoise.....Open your ears and hear the perfect unity.'
Berlingske Tidende 10 July 2009
'Award-winning ensemble...accomplished and sensitive musicians'
New York Times 6 August 2009
'A delightful evening...elflike lightness, solemnand passionate, full melodic sweetness and bubbling vitality...all aces in impressive, supreme music making.'
Ostesee Zeitung July 2009
'...storming shouts of bravo and standing ovations celebrated this unique performance..' Nordkurier 20 July 2009
'...The opening's greatest experience...the trio played for their life, emphasizing the highlights in intimate interplay...'
Politiken August 2009
Coming Season
The 2009-10 season will include several tours in Europe and in the United States, and the trio will celebrate their 10th Anniversary performing all Beethoven's works for piano trio in Diamanten, the Royal Library Concert Hall in Copenhagen. In the course of the autumn a recording of Beethoven's Triple Concerto will be on the market.

6 September 2009
Aksel Schiøtz Prize 2009 to Signe Asmussen
Soprano Signe Asmussen has been awarded the prestigious Aksel Schiøtz Prize 2009. She is awarded the prize for her vocal qualities, her versatiliy, readiness and ability to read and learn new music, her talent for performing in many different genres and her fine contact with her audience. Orchestras, chamber ensembles and operatic companies reinvite her to perform with them again and again. She is an active member of 'The Lied Company' where she explores the extensive lied repertoire with excellent colleagues, and the company is a great favourite with the Danish presenters.

The Aksel Schiøtz Prize is given in memory of the great Danish tenor Aksel Schiøtz, who was an extremely important figure in Danish music life, particularly during the 2. World War.

Our heartiest gratulations to Signe Asmussen.