Role

:

Conductor  

Birth

:

1955 in Denmark

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

Lars Ulrik Mortensen is a Danish harpsichordist and conductor who has made a significant impact on the world of classical music. Born on August 24, 1955, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Mortensen grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a composer and his mother was a pianist, which meant that music was always a part of his life. Mortensen began his musical education at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, where he studied piano, organ, and harpsichord. He later continued his studies at the Amsterdam Sweelinck Conservatory, where he focused on harpsichord performance. During this time, he also studied with renowned harpsichordist Gustav Leonhardt, who had a significant influence on Mortensen's musical style. In the early 1980s, Mortensen began to establish himself as a solo performer and chamber musician. He quickly gained a reputation for his virtuosic harpsichord playing and his ability to bring out the nuances of Baroque music. He also became known for his innovative interpretations of early music, which often involved improvisation and experimentation with historical performance practices. One of Mortensen's most significant achievements as a performer was his work with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, which he co-founded with conductor Ton Koopman in 1979. Mortensen served as the orchestra's harpsichordist and artistic director for many years, and he helped to establish it as one of the leading ensembles in the early music world. With the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Mortensen performed and recorded a wide range of Baroque music, including works by Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi. In addition to his work with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Mortensen has also performed with many other leading early music ensembles, including the English Concert, the Academy of Ancient Music, and Les Arts Florissants. He has also collaborated with a number of prominent soloists, including violinist John Holloway and soprano Emma Kirkby. Mortensen's career as a conductor began in the 1990s, when he was invited to lead the Concerto Copenhagen (formerly known as the Copenhagen Collegium Musicum). He quickly established himself as a skilled and insightful conductor, and he has since led many other orchestras and ensembles, including the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, and the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston. Throughout his career, Mortensen has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the world of classical music. In 1999, he was awarded the prestigious Léonie Sonning Music Prize, which is considered one of the highest honors in the Danish music world. He has also been awarded the Order of the Dannebrog, which is one of Denmark's highest civilian honors. In addition to his work as a performer and conductor, Mortensen is also a respected musicologist and scholar. He has written extensively on Baroque music and performance practice, and he has served as a professor of harpsichord at the Royal Danish Academy of Music. In recent years, Mortensen has continued to perform and record extensively, both as a soloist and with various ensembles. He has also continued to explore new approaches to early music performance, and he remains a leading figure in the early music world.

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