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Anders Koppel   (Born 1947)

komponist

Anders Koppel is to a rare degree a composer of his time. With one foot firmly planted in the classical European musical tradition and the other in world music, rock and jazz, Anders Koppel’s career as a omposer can be seen as one long continuous mission to unite these cultures in a contemporary musical idiom. This has resulted in a long succession of original works, all bearing the mark of a special ability to communicate emotions and energy, powerfully and straightforwardly, between musicians and audience.

Anders Koppel has composed music for around 200 films, plays and ballets, and this has helped to hone his musical vocabulary, which besides the classical forms also comprises a familiarity with and love of Latin American styles like tango, samba and Cuban music.

As a son of the composer and pianist Herman D. Koppel (1908-98), Anders Koppel grew up in a musical milieu: in his childhood and early youth he played piano and clarinet, and at an early stage became thoroughly familiar with scored music and instrumentation. At the same time Anders Koppel played an active part in the musical experiments that were part of the youth revolution of the 1960s and 1970s.

In the years 1967-74, as an organist and lyricist, Anders Koppel was a mainstay of the rock group Savage Rose, which was one of the most prominent, innovative bands on the Danish rock scene. Since Anders Koppel left Savage Rose in 1974 he has increasingly immersed himself in the creation of contemporary composition music.

Alongside his work as a composer Anders Koppel has been an active musician in among other contexts the group Bazaar, which for about 35 years has cultivated a unique idiom typified by improvisation, Balkan music and Anders Koppel’s own compositions. Since 1996 he has also played with his son, the saxophonist Benjamin Koppel, in among other ensembles the trio Koppel-Andersen-Koppel.

Live Dates

11/01/2012   Best sound quality of the year 2011
Det amerikanske hi-fi magasin Audiophile Audition har Koppel-kvartetter på listen over årets bedste 2011
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01/06/2011   Koppel's String Quartets is CD of the Month
Anders Koppel's String Quartets and Mezzo Saxophone Quintet has been chosen 'CD of the Month' by the American Classics Today. Read the full review here:
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13/05/2011   Photo album from CD Release
Se billeder fra CD-release-festen for Anders Koppels strygekvartetter med Sjællands Strygekvartet og komponistens søn, saxofonist Benjamin Koppel.
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12/05/2011   New video: Sjælland String Quartet featuring Benjamin Koppel
Video trailer for the new SACD release of Anders Koppel's string quartets and mezzo saxophone quintet
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28/04/2011   Invitation til CD-release
I anledning af udgivelsen af Anders Koppels strygekvartetter og mezzosaxofon-kvintet med Sjællands Strygekvartet og Benjamin Koppel inviterer vi til CD-release
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14/06/2013   Fyens Stiftstidende

Carion spiller Koppel
4/6 Stars

"Godt gået her!"
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14/05/2013   Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten

Carion spiller Koppel
5/6 Stars

"De tre aktuelle blæserkvintetter fra Koppel-familien vender og drejer sig mellem intense følelser og bratte opbremsninger, mellem humørsyge og smukke blæserguirlander."
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01/02/2013   Opus

Accordion Concertos
6/6 Stars

"Bjarke har ett otroligt fint anslag och är virtuos, humoristisk, djupsinnig och helt enkelt underbar!"
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01/10/2012   Neue Musikzeitung

Anders Koppel: Concertos
"Melodische Motive und rhythmische Freude konturiert Anders Koppel zu einem angenehmen Stil aus Essenzen moderater Moderne."
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01/07/2012   International Record Review

Accordion Concertos
"I enjoyed every note of it and strongly suggest that you do yourself the same favour" IRR - OUTSTANDING
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01/07/2012   Gramophone

Accordion Concertos
”…superbly recorded, the Dacapo sound securing a well-nigh ideal balance of soloist and ensemble (…) pleasurable listening pure and simple.”
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29/06/2012   Thewholenote.com

Accordion Concertos
"Mogensen makes his brutal technical part sound so easy in this quasi minimalistic exercise in shifting fluid breathtaking sounds."
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21/06/2012   Bornholms Tidende

Accordion Concertos
"Det væsentligste på denne udgivelse er hvordan akkordeonet i hænderne på en kompetent solist kan bryde grænser ned for hvad instrumentet kan udtrykke."
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24/05/2012   Amazon-review

Accordion Concertos
"Whether you're after fresh sounds, virtuoso performances, or just plain good music-making, this recording fills the bill"
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18/05/2012   Amazon-review

Accordion Concertos
"Repeated listening (...) should bring a new appreciation for the accordion"
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15/05/2012   Infodad.com

Accordion Concertos
4/5 Stars

"Bjarke Mogensen seems able to make the accordion into something it does not naturally appear to be: an instrument of considerable emotional range, tonal impact and sonic beauty"
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13/05/2012   San Francisco Chronicle

Accordion Concertos
"The most beautiful, dramatic and sheerly irresistible disc of new music to cross my desk in months"
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30/04/2012   The Globe and Mail (Canada)

Accordion Concertos
4/5 Stars

"A virtuoso performance by the brilliant young Danish accordionist, Bjarke Mogensen."
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30/04/2012   WRUV Reviews

Accordion Concertos
"No oompah here, mostly gentle and lyrical. Nice!"
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30/04/2012   La Scena Musicale

Accordion Concertos
4/5 Stars

"Like an aural set of Northern Lights... Weird and scintillating stuff."
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11/04/2012   Fyens Stiftstidende

Accordion Concertos
4/6 Stars

"Lohses let minimalistiske stil matcher accordeonens mange muligheder og især Bjarke Mogensens talentfulde spil glimrende."
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01/04/2012   Classicalcdreview.com

Accordion Concertos
"DaCapo's disk of accordion concertos is fascinating." "If you're looking for something different, try this."
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30/03/2012   Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten

Accordion Concertos
4/6 Stars

"Den unge akkordeon-djævel Bjarke Mogensen har den brod, der forløser de store ambitioner, som man fornemmer i koncerterne."
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05/12/2011   American Record Guide

Anders Koppel: Concertos
"...evokes the wonder of new life with lovely flute melodies and delicate harp sounds. A shimmering Pastorale is a walk in the woods, complete with thunderstorm."
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01/11/2011   Gramophone

Anders Koppel: Concertos
"The Intermezzo could happily find its place as the soundtrack to a wistful 1950s French film, while the finale brings in antique cymbals and slide whistle without suspicion of gimmickry or even incongruity"
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26/09/2011   Børsen

Anders Koppel: String Quartets and Mezzo Saxophone Quintet
"Det er en helt fantastisk udgivelse...simpelthen verdensklasse."
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15/09/2011   Audiophile Audition

Anders Koppel: String Quartets and Mezzo Saxophone Quintet
"This is a magnificent disc that demonstrates how ingratiating and fresh new music can be. Don't miss it!" BEST OF THE YEAR DISCS 2011
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18/08/2011   Classics Today (10/10)

Anders Koppel: Concertos
"Anders Koppel's concertos show off not only his impressive versatility with solo instruments, but also offer stimulating musical variety as well"
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05/07/2011   Ritmo

Anders Koppel: String Quartets and Mezzo Saxophone Quintet
4/4 Stars

"Por técnica y entrega, las interpretaciones son irreprochable"
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24/06/2011   Amazon.com

Anders Koppel: Strygekvartetter og mezzosaxofon-kvintet
5/5 Stars

"Clean, well-imaged sound supports fine performances by the Sjaelland Quartet and Benjamin Koppel. Recommended!"
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21/06/2011   Fyens Stiftstidende

Anders Koppel: String Quartets and Mezzo Saxophone Quintet
4/6 Stars

"Stringente rytmer, jazzede, frække, groteske, vilde, og så en tilbageholdenhed, en musikkens stream-of-consciousness i skiftende tempi, men med en indre ro og eftertænksomhed."
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15/06/2011   Kristeligt Dagblad

Anders Koppel: String Quartets and Mezzo Saxophone Quintet
5/6 Stars

"Sjældent har man siddet og vippet så meget med foden til en strygekvartet som til Koppels første af slagsen!"
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15/06/2011   Kristeligt Dagblad

Anders Koppel: Concertos
4/6 Stars

"Der er så mange musikalske guldkorn også på denne udgivelse, at man som nysgerrig lytter bør unde sig selv et bekendtskab med disse koncerter."
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08/06/2011   Upsala Nya Tidning

Anders Koppel: Concertos
4/4 Stars

"Subtilt introppektiva kvalitéer och en återhållsamhet med klangmedlen förenas med en flödande, lättillgänglig melodik i trygg tonal förankring - som gör att Koppeals musik omedelbart apellerar till lyssnaren."
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26/05/2011   Classics Today (10/10) - CD of the Month June 2011 -

Anders Koppel: String Quartets and Mezzo Saxophone Quintet
This is a first-rate program of eminently listenable, exceptionally well-wrought chamber music, remarkable for its inventive, conventionally sophisticated string quartet writing. Anders Koppel has created something not only sensible but laudable and repeatable and demanding of a place in the concert repertoire ... Make this a priority."
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Photo: Omar Ingerslev

Discography

Carion plays Koppel - Wind Quintets
Carion plays Koppel - Wind Quintets
Herman D. Koppel, Anders Koppel, Benjamin Koppel

CD 8.226107 (2013)

Accordion Concertos
Accordion Concertos
Per Nørgård, Ole Schmidt, Anders Koppel, Martin Lohse

SACD 6.220592 (2012)

The internationally famous virtuoso Bjarke Mogensen makes the accordion an irresistible solo instrument in four energetic concertos from the past 50 years.

Concertos
Concertos
Anders Koppel

CD 8.226052 (2011)

A long succession of original works, all bearing the mark of a special ability to communicate emotions and energy, powerfully and straightforwardly, between musicians and audience.

Skrammel & Tis - Klassiske musikfortællinger for børn
Skrammel & Tis - Klassiske musikfortællinger for børn
Rasmussen, A. Koppel, Pape

CD 8.224722 (2011)

To eventyrlige musikfortællinger og en skrammelkoncert - orkestermusik for børn på en ny måde

String Quartets and Mezzo Saxophone Quintet
String Quartets and Mezzo Saxophone Quintet
Anders Koppel

SACD 6.220566 (2011)

Jazz icon Benjamin Koppel had a special mezzo-soprano saxophone developed to perform and record this new quintet by his father

Double Concertos
Double Concertos
Anders Koppel

CD 8.226055 (2008)

Dancing, imaginative music with major roles for saxophone, piano, violin and accordion

Works for Saxophone and orchestra
Works for Saxophone and orchestra
Anders Koppel

CD 8.226036 (2006)

Unique father-son collaboration that combines improvisation with a classical framework


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