Concerto Copenhagen
Biography Concerto Copenhagen
Concerto Copenhagen
played its first concert in 1991 and has since developed into Scandinavia’s leading early music ensemble, joining the league of the world’s most exciting and innovative Baroque orchestras. Original interpretations and a strong ability to communicate with the audience are among Concerto Copenhagen’s hallmarks – making old music vital, relevant and contemporary.
In 1999 the internationally acclaimed harpsichordist and chamber musician, Lars Ulrik Mortensen, became the ensemble’s chief artistic director, and was awarded the coveted Léonie Sonning Music Prize in 2007.
Scandinavian origins: The collaboration between Concerto Copenhagen and Lars Ulrik Mortensen has led to an exciting artistic and musical journey, appreciated and praised by audiences and critics worldwide, and combining a repertoire of well-known European music with less familiar works of Scandinavian origin.
Over the years Concerto Copenhagen has collaborated with many internationally renowned artists in the Early Music scene, including Emma Kirkby, Andreas Scholl, Anne Sofie von Otter, Sonia Prina, Vivica Genaux, Andrew Manze, Andrew Lawrence-King, Reinhard Goebel, Ronald Brautigam, Jordi Savall, and Alfredo Bernardini, the orchestra’s principal guest conductor. Beginning in 2015 the Danish composer Karl Aage Rasmussen will be composer-in-residence and accompany the orchestra on an adventurous expedition into the world of contemporary music.
International attention: Concerto Copenhagen’s CD recordings for CPO, Deutsche Grammophon and BIS, as well as DVD productions for Harmonia Mundi and Decca have attracted worldwide attention and won several international awards. This has led to invitations from many of Europe’s leading concert venues and festivals, as well as extensive tours to the USA, Japan, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. International reviews reflect the experience of a cosmopolitan orchestra at the highest level.
Concerto Copenhagen’s collaboration with Italian opera director Deda Cristina Colonna has led to highly successful opera productions in the orchestra’s hometown Copenhagen. In 2016 Concerto Copenhagen will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a wide range of projects and events.
