NEW RELEASE
Bach: Six Suites for cello solo
August 23rd 2024.
https://henrikdamthomsen.dk/hjem/reviews
website for danish cellist
Henrik Dam Thomsen
Henrik Dam Thomsen is a distinguished Nordic cellist. Since 2000, he has held the position of solo cellist in the Danish National Symphony Orchestra – an orchestra of international calibre that since 2022 has had an exclusive
contract with the record company Deutsche Grammophon.
Henrik Dam Thomsen studied in Copenhagen, London and Bloomington (Indiana, USA), under Morten Zeuthen, Torleif Thedeen, William Pleeth and János Starker. He has been strongly influenced by the Scandinavian cello tradition as well as some of the major figures of the international cello world.
After his debut from The Royal Danish Academy of Music (DKDM) in 1998, Berlingske Tidende wrote: ‘Expectations were sky-high. They were surpassed. Hardly anyone had dreamt of a debut concert of such high solo, virtuoso and artistic quality as that proferred by Henrik Dam Thomsen. As a reviewer, I at any rate cannot recall anything more convincing over the past 35 years.’ (Jens Brincker)
Henrik Dam Thomsen’s international debut recording, with solo works by Kodály and Britten (Chandos Records, 2004), was nominated for a Danish Music Award and was given a number of excellent reviews in international journals.
As a soloist, Henrik Dam Thomsen has performed with leading Danish symphonic and chamber orchestras, and in 2006 he made a remarkable debut as a soloist in Tokyo when, at one and the same concert, he performed solo
suites by Bach and the solo sonata by Kodály, and was soloist in Dvořák’s cello concerto with the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra.
For a number of years, Henrik Dam Thomsen has worked closely with a number of leading Danish musicians/ensembles, including the pianist Ulrich
Stærk, the Danish National Girls’ Choir and Copenhagen Cello Quartet. This has led to recordings, TV appearances, first performances and tour activities.
Henrik Dam Thomsen has participated in more than 150 CD productions as well as a number of award-winning film scores, the most striking of which is cooperation in connection with Lars von Trier’s films.
Henrik Dam Thomsen’s open-minded attitude to the diversity of music and his search for alternative
musical paths through the borderland between classical and improvisational music has resulted in a 30-year collaboration with two of Denmark’s most distinctive musicians and composers, Benjamin and Anders Koppel.
Henrik Dam Thomsen er en fremtrædende nordisk cellist. Han har siden 2000 haft ansættelse som solo-cellist DR Symfoniorkestret - et orkester i international klasse, som siden 2022 har haft eksklusiv kontrakt med pladeselskabet, Deutsche Grammophon.
Henrik Dam Thomsen er uddannet i København, London og Bloomington (Indiana, USA), hos Morten Zeuthen, Torleif Thedeen, William Pleeth og Janos Starker. Han er præget af både den skandinaviske cellotradition og nogle af den internationale celloverdens store personligheder.
Efter debuten fra Det Kgl. Danske Musikkonservatorium i 1998 skrev Berlingske Tidende: "Forventningerne var skyhøje. De blev overgået. Næppe nogen havde drømt om en debutkoncert på et så højt solistisk, virtuost og kunstnerisk niveau som det, Henrik Dam Thomsen præsterede. Nærværende anmelder kan i hvert fald ikke huske noget mere overbevisende fra de sidste 35 år." (Jens Brincker)
Henrik Dam Thomsens internationale debut-udgivelse med solo-værker af Kodaly og Britten (Chandos Records, 2004) blev nomineret til en Danish Music Award og modtog en række fremragende anmeldelser i internationale fagtidsskrifter.
Som solist har Henrik Dam Thomsen optrådt med førende danske symfoni- og kammerorkestre, og i 2006 havde han en bemærkelsesværdig solistdebut i Tokyo, da han ved én og samme koncert optrådte med solo-suiter af Bach, solosonaten af Kodály og som solist i Dvorak's cellokoncert med New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra.
Henrik Dam Thomsen har gennem en årrække haft tæt samarbejde med en række fremtrædende danske musikere/ensembler her i blandt pianisten Ulrich Stærk, DR Pigekoret, Copenhagen Cello Quartet. Disse har ført til indspilninger, TV optrædener, uropførelser og turné-virksomhed. Henrik Dam Thomsen medvirker på over 150 CD-produktioner og på en række prisbelønnede film-scores, hvor det mest markante er samarbejdet omkring Lars von Trier ́s film.
Henrik Dam Thomsen’s åbenhed overfor musikkens diversitet, og søgen efter alternative musikalske veje i grænselandet mellem klassisk og improvisationsmusik har udmøntet sig i et 30-årigt samarbejde med to af Danmarks markante musikere og komponister, Benjamin og Anders Koppel.
