Benjamin Koppel

saxophone

Benjamin Koppel is the third generation of Denmark’s leading musical family. His grandfather was the composer and pianist Herman D. Koppel , and his father is Anders Koppel , who likewise shines in the dual role of musician and composer. Benjamin is self-taught like his father, and they have had a creative collaboration since Benjamin, as an 11-year-old boy soprano, performed some of his father’s songs. In 1997 the collaboration led to Anders Koppel’s Saxophone Concerto No. 1, written especially for Benjamin’s talents, and in 2004 this was followed by Saxophone Concerto No. 2. When Anders Koppel’s double concerto for saxophone and piano was given its first performance, father and son rounded off the concert with a jam session. Benjamin Koppel has recorded innumerable CDs and performed with jazz masters like Randy Brecker, Phil Woods and Kenny Werner.

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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21/10/2011 MusicWeb International

Herman D. Koppel, Benjamin Koppel: Works for cello and piano
"Serious, sturdy, blazingly grand and brilliant ... Two Koppels in music that is unflinchingly serious and gripping."
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01/10/2011 Klassisk

Works for cello and piano
5/5 Stars

"Denne cd giver et sjældent blik ind i en familierelation på musikkens egne præmisser. Og til et glædeligt genhør med nogle af Herman D. Koppels mesterlige værker."
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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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30/08/2011 Politiken

Herman D. Koppel, Benjamin Koppel: Works for cello and piano
5/6 Hjerter

"Der er smæk for skillingen i serier af handlingsmættede forløb i stramme nyklassiske former, og ingen af de to erfarne musikere holder igen med de energiske udredninger"
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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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19/06/2011 Fyens Stiftstidende

Herman D. Koppel, Benjamin Koppel: Works for cello and piano
5/6 Stars

"Koppels poetiske soloværk fra 1971 ... får takket være Zeuthens formidable spil, der favner instrumentets kolossale spændvidde, en uafrystelig intensitet."
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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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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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Discography

	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
	Works for cello and piano Herman D. Koppel, Benjamin Koppel CD 8.226088 (2011)
	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 Anders Koppel CD 8.226036 (2006) Unique father-son collaboration that combines improvisation with a classical framework