Poul Ruders (Born 1949)

composer

Hardly any Danish composer living today is more internationally-minded than Poul Ruders. Since he made his first impact in the 1980s with his brilliant orchestral works, there have been increasing requests from abroad for more works from his pen. And Ruders, with joyous energy, has plunged into large, demanding genres and forms. In 1996 he achieved what must surely be the ultimate in the dissemination of a composer's music: his Concerto in Pieces was premiered at the Last Night of the Proms in the Royal Albert Hall. Poul Ruders began his career as an organist, and also studied composition with Ib Nørholm. For some years he worked as an organist in the Danish Church. Ruders' music is outward-looking with the emphasis on the appeal of sound. His starting-point was the Polish School, but his later works could be called Neo-Romantic. Besides his sparkling use of sound Ruders is also a master of his craft who can create brilliant instrumentation. Worth singling out among his most striking orchestral works are the apocalyptic Saaledes saae Johannes (Thus saw St. John), the instrumental concertos, Symphony No. 1, the tension-filled Soltrilogi (Solar Trilogy) and the dazzling and highly acclaimed opera Tjenerindens Fortælling (The Handmaid’s Tale). He has also aroused attention with his works for guitar and organ.

Live Dates

19/08/2011   Selma on the blog
When Poul Ruders' opera "Selma Jezková" conquered New York's Lincoln Center in July, the tragic plot made a strong impression on the American audience.
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31/05/2011   New video: Selma Jezková trailer
Poul Ruders introduces his opera "Selma Jezková" (Dancer in the Dark) in this video trailer for Dacapo Records' new DVD release
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02/02/2011   Two Danish nominees for BBC Awards
Two Dacapo recordings with music by Rued Langgaard and Poul Ruders respectively have been nominated for the perstiguous BBC Music Magazine Awards 2011. You can vote too!
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10/03/2010   Gramophone's Tune Surfing praises Dacapo
"Quite a variety of treats" - Gramophone's Editor-in-Chief James Jolly praises Dacapo's new Music Store
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04/03/2010   New musical director recommends CDs
Henrik Engelbrecht, new musical director at Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens recommends his three favourite Dacapo CDs
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03/01/2012 Opera

Poul Ruders: Selma Jekozà
"...an outstanding record of a quite extraordinary work. I can't recommend it too highly"
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21/11/2011 American Record Guide

Distant Still - Trios for violin, horn and piano
"These Danish composers from three generations seem intent on forging their own paths ... this is a fascinating and powerful piece."
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01/10/2011 Gramophone

Ruders, Gudmundsen-Holmgreen, Eichberg: Distant Still - Trios for violin, horn and piano
"Taken together, they offer a fascinating cross-section of the diversity of temperament among Danish composers ... a disc that is as finely recorded as it is played."
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01/10/2011 Klassisk

Poul Ruders: Selma Jezková
4/5 Stars

"Det cirkulære handlingsforløb og den enkle scenografi virker stærkt og klart på skærmen"
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30/08/2011 Classica

Poul Ruders: Selma Jezková (Dancer in the Dark)
3/5 Stars

"Équipe de la creation danoise parfaite"
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16/08/2011 TimeOut Chicago Review

Poul Ruders: Selma Jezková (Dancer in the Dark)
4/5 Stars

"Lead Ylva Kihlberg’s unwavering soprano stands as the vocal highlight of the performance"
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30/06/2011 International Record Review

Poul Ruders: Selma Jezková
"The whole production is a triumph of dramatic focus and concentration ... If a UK staging of Selma Jezková is not already scheduled, it certainly ought to be."
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21/06/2011 Fyens Stiftstidende

Distant Still - Trioer for violin, horn og klaver
4/6 Stars

"De tre musikere har spillet sammen siden slut-90' erne, og viser til fulde, at instrumentsammensætningen er udfordrende og lytteværdig."
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08/06/2011 Kristeligt Dagblad

Distant Still - Trios for violin, horn and piano
4/6 Stars

"De tre musikere spiller hele vejen igennem med en omhyggelig sans for detaljerne."
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01/06/2011 David's Review Corner

Poul Ruders: Selma Jezková
"One act operas have been singularly unsuccessful in the history of opera, but this compelling story may prove the exception".
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05/05/2011 Diapason

Holmboe, Bruun, Nørgård, Holten, Koppel, Jersild, Ruders Hymn to the Sun - Works for a cappella choir
"Les chemins parcourus tracent la carte d'une modenité subtilement tempérée à l'image des faisceaux de lumière qui traversent une belle matière chantée et parfois parlée dans la pièce de Vagn Holmboe."
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01/05/2011 Ritmo

Holmboe, Bruun, Nørgård, Holten, Koppel, Jersild, Ruders: Solhymne - Værker for a cappella kor
4/4 Stars

"Mirado con distancia, este disco es fruto de la tradición coral danesa, una de las más potentes de toda Europa."
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16/12/2010 Fyens Stiftstidende

Hymn to the Sun - Works for a cappella choir
4/6 Stars

"Et homogent og velsammensunget ensemble, med en forbilledlig tekstudtale."
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17/06/2010 American Record Guide

Poul Ruders: Four Dances
"I have been listening to this constantly for over a month...The playing is spectacular"
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01/04/2010 Ballet Review

Poul Ruders: Kafka's Trial and Four Dances
"Knussen and his Birminghamforces give their all throughout."
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01/04/2010 BBC Music Magazine

Poul Ruders: Four Dances
5 Stars

CHAMBER CHOICE MAY 2010 “Performances are as accurate and committed as you would expect from the BCMG and Knussen, with recorded sound that gives the textures clarity and depth”
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01/04/2010 www.allmusic.com

Poul Ruders: Four Dances
"Fans of Ruders or challenging contemporary music in general, are encouraged to snap this one up."
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09/03/2010 The Guardian

Poul Ruders: Four Dances
"This is a bracing, sensuous ear-opener."
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25/02/2010 Klassik.com

Poul Ruders: Four Dances
4 Stars

"Die exzellent und sehr direkt aufgenommene Einspielung kann mit drei farbigen und stimmungsvollen Werken für Kammerensemble aufwarten"
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22/02/2010 Musicweb International

Conversations for violin and piano
"The performances, excellently recorded, are outstandingly good, and evince powerful commitment for the repertoire."
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01/02/2010 Magasinet Klassisk

Poul Ruders: Four Dances
5/5 Stars

"Hele udgivelsen er båret af høj kvalitet: fra musikere, dirigent, lydteknikere og helt frem til de fine værknoter."
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04/01/2010 Classics Today

Poul Ruders: Concertos
"I can think of no better introduction to Ruders' music than this appealing new disc."
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24/11/2009 Politiken

Conversations for violin og klaver
4/6 Hjerter

"Dynamisk og inderligt fortolket af violinisten Elisabeth Zeuthen Schneider og pianisten Ulrich Stærk."
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03/11/2005 Politiken

L'Homme Armé - Works for Solo Cello
5/6 Hjerter

"Her modelleres og modificeres meningsfuldt og sammenhængsskabende, ofte med et skarpt blik for det dramatiske potentiale. Og så er der i øvrigt tale om rigtig smukt cellospil med stort teknisk overskud”
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15/07/1992 BBC Radio

Hans Abrahamsen and Poul Ruders: String Quartets
"The Kontra Quartet capture both the brusque quirkiness and the delicate pathos of these works."
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Discography

	Selma Jezková (Dancer in the Dark) Poul Ruders DVD 2.110410 (2011) Poul Ruders' heart-rending opera from 2010 based on Lars von Trier's film "Dancer in the Dark"
	Distant Still - Trios for violin, horn and piano Ruders, Gudmundsen-Holmgreen, Eichberg CD 8.226549 (2011) Contemporary works written for The Danish Horn Trio by Poul Ruders, Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen and Søren Niels Eichberg
	Hymn to the Sun - Works for a cappella choir Holmboe, Bruun, Nørgård, Holten, Koppel, Jersild, Ruders CD 8.226051 (2010) The Danish National Vocal Ensemble in newer works by some of Denmark’s internationally renowned composers
	Conversations for violin and piano Koppel, Nørgård, Ruders, Rosing-Schow, Nordentoft CD 8.226519 (2009) One hour of short youthful and charming pieces by five important post-war composers
	Four Dances Poul Ruders CD 8.226028 (2009) Orchestral magician Poul Ruders is just as unique when he writes for chamber ensemble
	Concertos Poul Ruders CD 8.226034 (2009) Ruders’ international success Concerto in Pieces and virtuoso concertos for violin and percussion
	Works for guitar Poul Ruders CD 8.226542 (2008) Værker gennem 25 år med guitaren som solist og i ensemble
	Kafka's Trial Poul Ruders CD 8.226042-43 (2006) The vibrant successor to Ruders’ world success The Handmaid’s Tale
	L'Homme Armé - Works for Solo Cello CD 8.226007 (2005) Monumental collection of new works for solo cello – virtuosic and powerful!
	Works for Piano CD 8.224019 (2004)
	Piano Works Poul Ruders CD 8.224148 (2001) Music with a huge expressive range, played with great insight by the English pianist Rolf Hind
	The Handmaid's Tale Poul Ruders CD 8.224165-66 (2001) Vor tids stærkeste opera – et genialt og rystende værk
	A Drummer's Tale, episode two Poul Ruders CD 8.224085 (1999) Seven works written for – and with – the percussion virtuoso Gert Sørensen
	Symphony No. 2 Poul Ruders CD 8.224125 (1999) Ruders’ Piano Concerto and his explosive Symphony no. 2 – a tremendous listening experience!
	Solar Trilogy Poul Ruders CD 8.224054 (1997) The great big orchestral trip – a unique trilogy in European music
	Concertos Poul Ruders DCCD 9308 (1993)
	String Quartets Hans Abrahamsen and Poul Ruders DCCD 9006 (1992)