“A consummate perfectionist of the cello”
Politiken
TOKE MØLDRUP, cellist
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Acclaimed as “A star” (New York Times), “Tomorrow’s man” and even a “A consummate perfectionist on the cello” (Politiken), Danish cellist Toke Møldrup has performed across Europe and the United States, South America, Australia, the Middle East and Asia for two decades.
Møldrup’s concerts, social media presence and his experimental and reflected approach to classical music captivate existing audiences while engaging new listeners.
Møldrup has performed in venues such as the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Vienna’s Musikverein, Daiichi Seimei Hall in Tokyo and the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing.
As a soloist, Møldrup has performed with Danish and international symphony orchestras under conductors such as Vincent de Kort, Santtu Rouvali, Lan Shui and Toshiyuki Kamioka, and at festivals such as the Bergen International Festival, Lincoln International Chamber Music Festival, Monte-Carlo Spring Arts Festival and Oberstdorf Music Summer.
With a keen interest in developing the cello repertoire, he has premiered many works by contemporary composers, among them the European premiere of John Williams’ cello concerto, the world premiere of Geoffrey Gordon’s cello concerto and Christian Winther Christensen’s double concerto.
His versatile approach to modern cello playing is demonstrated in his recent adding to the list of recordings: CONSOLATION – dedicated to the victims and heroes of the pandemic with pianist Tanja Zapolski, Beethoven’s complete sonatas and variations with pianist Yaron Kohlberg, CELLO LIBRIS – chamber and concerto works for cello by Geoffrey Gordon and last but not least the 6 suites for solo cello by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Among many national and international prizes, Toke Møldrup has received Queen Ingrid’s Honorary Award for his achievements on behalf of Danish music as well as the Augustinus Foundation’s Anniversary Grant.
Due to his busy concert schedule and his position as a professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Møldrup has recently left his position as principal cellist of the Copenhagen Philharmonic, one of Denmark’s top orchestras and famous for its inspirational and successful initiative to attract new audiences to the world of classical music. He is now continuing this important work as artistic director of the annual Svanekegaarden International Cello Masterclass.
Important influences on Møldrup’s artistic development include cellists Valter Dešpalj, Hans Jensen, Ralph Kirschbaum, Yo-Yo Ma, Harro Ruijsenaars and Morten Zeuthen as well as prof. Tim Frederiksen and The Alban Berg Quartet, under whose mentorship he studied as a member of the Paizo Quartet, winner of the Grand Prize at the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition in his early career.
Toke Møldrup plays a David Tecchler cello (Rome, 1697) courtesy of the Augustinus Foundation.