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Bo Holten

composer
conductor
1948
© Lars Skaaning

Bo Holten is equally recognized as a conductor and composer. He was principal guest conductor of the BBC Singers from 1990 to 2006, and he conducted the Flemish Radio Choir in Brussels from 2006 to 2011, the last three seasons as chief conductor. In addition, he has guest conducted the Swedish Radio Choir, the Dutch Chamber Choir, the National Choir of Ireland and several other vocal ensembles.

For almost 50 years, Bo Holten has been a driving force in the international movement for early music. His work with vocal polyphony has been groundbreaking in the Nordic countries, and he has brought many polyphonic masterpieces to their first performances in modern times. As a composer, he has written nine operas, most recently the Lutheran opera Schlagt sie tot! (released by Dacapo Records in 2021), five solo concertos, three symphonies, various orchestral works, chamber music and film music (for Lars von Trier and Bille August) and about 40 works for choir.

  • Nicolaus Gottschovius, Lupus Hellinck, Orlande de Lassus, Matthaeus le Maistre, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Mogens Pedersøn, Erasmus Rotenbucher, Arnolt Schlick, Ludwig Senfl, Johann Walter

    Reforming Hymns

  • Bo Holten

    The Emperor's New Clothes

  • J.P.E. Hartmann, Carl Nielsen, Thomas Laub, Thorvald Aagaard, Poul Schierbeck, Peter Heise, Bo Holten, Oluf Ring, Harald Balslev, Bo Gunge, Marianne Søgaard, Ernst A. Kiørboe, N.K. Madsen-Stensgaard, Haakon Elmer, Henrik Rung, Emil Hornemann

    Songs from the Borderland

  • Clemens non Papa, Conrad Rein, Thomas Stoltzer, Lucas Lossius, Johannes Alectorius

    Thomissøn's Easter

  • Knudåge Riisager

    The Symphonic Edition Vol. 3

  • Knudåge Riisager

    The Symphonic Edition Vol. 2

  • Bo Holten

    Venus' Wheel - Works for Choir

  • Erik Norby

    The Rainbow Snake - Orchestral Songs and Symphonic Works

  • Poul Rovsing Olsen

    Piano Concerto and Orchestral Works

  • Knudåge Riisager

    The Symphonic Edition Vol. 1

  • Carl Nielsen

    Cantatas

  • Erik Bach

    Orkesterværker

  • Emil Reesen

    Orchestral Works

  • Emil Hartmann

    Orchestral Works

  • Thomas Koppel

    Los Angeles Street Concerto - Michala Petri plays Koppel

  • Knudåge Riisager

    Ballet Music

  • Bo Holten

    The Marriage of Heaven and Hell

  • Mogens Pedersøn

    Madrigals

  • Medieval Music in Denmark

  • Thomas Stoltzer, Melchoir Kugelmann, Jørgen Presten, Josquin de Prez, Nicolas Gombert, Heinrich Finck, Ludwig Senfl, Severin Tham

    Winds and Voices II

  • David Abell, Jørgen Presten, Paul Kugelmann, Melchoir Kugelmann, Heinrich Finck

    Winds and Voices. Music at the Court of King Christian III