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Hans Abrahamsen receives the Sonning Music Prize

Hans Abrahamsen © Lars Skaaning

Hans Abrahamsen receives the Sonning Music Prize

Composer Hans Abrahamsen will receive the Léonie Sonning Music Prize 2019 at a concert on 26 April 2019. Right now you get a 25% discount on all releases with Abrahamsen's music.

People
23 April 2019

When Hans Abrahamsen receives the Léonie Sonning Music Prize on 26 April, it will be celebrated with a mini festival with music by Abrahamsen. On that occasion, Dacapo offers a 25% discount on all releases with Abrahamsen's music.

Denmark's most prestigious music prize and 100.000 Euro

Hans Abrahamsen is the 16th composer to be awarded the Léonie Sonning Music Prize. Before him, the prize has been awarded to, among others, Igor Stravinskij (1959), Dmitri Shostakovich (1968), György Ligeti (1990), György Kurtág (2003), Kaija Saariaho (2011) and most recently Thomas Adès (2015).

Hans Abrahamsen is also the 5th Dane to be awarded the Léonie Sonning Music Prize following Mogens Wöldike (1976), Per Nørgård (1996), Michala Petri (2000) and Lars Ulrik Mortensen (2007).

Léonie Sonning's Music Prize is is recognized as Denmark's highest musical honor, and the Léonie Sonning Music Prize amounts to EUR 100,000.

Abrahamsen is performed all over the world

Hans Abrahamsen was born in Lyngby in 1952. He played the horn when he was young and was admitted to the Royal Danish Academy of Music in 1969. Here, his interest in composition and music theory was aroused, and during the 1970’s, Hans Abrahamsen wrote his first significant works.

A large number of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors have played Hans Abrahamsen’s music, including: The Berlin Philharmonic, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Cleveland Orchestra and Boston Symphony Orchestra and conductors Andris Nelsons, Sir Simon Rattle and Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Hans Abrahamsen has also received a number of prizes. The most significant include the Carl Nielsen Prize in 1989 and in 2016 both the Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition for let me tell you and the Nordic Council Music Prize for let me tell you.

Hans Abrahamsen has taught composition at the Royal Danish Academy of Music and at the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus, and has recently been appointed Adjunct Professor of composition at the Royal Danish Academy of Music.

Dacapo has released music by Hans Abrahamsen through the last 25 years. Right now all releases are at a 25% discount.
  • Hans Abrahamsen

    10 Preludes, Six Pieces, Transcriptions of Satie & Nielsen

  • Hans Abrahamsen

    Works for Wind Quintet

  • Per Nørgård, Poul Ruders, Hans Abrahamsen, Bent Sørensen

    Through the Looking Glass

  • Hans Abrahamsen

    Orchestral Works

  • Hans Abrahamsen

    Chamber Music

  • Hans Abrahamsen

    Works for Sinfonietta

Mini festival in Copenhagen and Aarhus

Hans Abrahamsen is celebrated with concerts in Copenhagen and Aarhus during the next weeks:

Sinfonietta evening
Wednesday, 24 April 2019 8.00 pm
The Royal Danish Library, Queens Hall

Chamber music, evening
Thursday, 25 April 2019 7.30 pm
The Royal Danish Academy of Music
Concert introduction 6.30 pm by Hans Abrahamsen in an interview with Esben Tange

Sonning Prize concert
Friday, 26 April 2019 7.30
Concert House, DR Byen

Hans A til Folket! – chamber music and arrangements​​​​​​​
Sunday, 28 April 2019 7.30 pm
Århus Musikforening, Aarhus Concert Hall

Østerbro Kammermusikfestival focusing on Hans Abrahamsen​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​Thursday, d. 16 May 18 pm – Saturday 18 May 23 pm.
Østerbro Koncertforening Dag Hammerskjölds Allé 30