With 12 concerts in 12 days, the Copenhagen Summer Festival is the must attend event for classical music lovers.  Founded in 1969, this long-standing festival has for over 40 years focused on showcasing classical chamber music from upcoming talents to the people of Copenhagen.

One of Denmark’s most prestigious and important chamber music events, the festival has played a significant role in helping many of today’s leading musicians and ensembles enter the international music industry.

Presenting highly profiled artists alongside new up-and-comers, organisers believe this ensures the quality is of the highest standard. Besides showcasing high quality music, the Copenhagen Summer Festival’s goal is to develop the classical music scene by presenting young Danish and international classical musicians, many of whom are already prize-winning artists.

This event will provide guests with an awe-inspiring musical experience as they are exposed to a plethora of immensely talented young individuals, some even as young as 12. For the musicians themselves, it is a platform on which to launch – or boost – their careers through networking and mentorship.

The venue for the festival is Charlottenborgs Festsal, the home of the art academy, which is situated next to the Royal Theatre on Kongens Nytorv square. This is an ideal venue due to the intimacy of the performance hall. With a lovely old classical facade and room to seat only 200 people, guests will almost feel like they are on stage themselves.

Attendance almost always reaches capacity so don’t miss out – book in advance, rather than relying on door sales.

Opening Act:

Daria Rabotkina

Internationally praised Russian-American piano soloist Daria Rabotkina will be opening the festival. Rabotkina gave her first solo musical recital at age 10 and has experienced a burgeoning career, which has already led to solo appearances with the San Francisco and New World Symphonies.

Sun 29 July, 16:30 

Must see:

Young Soloists 

Three young, but already immensely talented, musicians perform this free concert, playing pieces from Brahms, Maurice, Itturaide and Mozart. Playing the cello is 15 year old Rose-Marie Tom Petersen, and on clarinet, 15 year old Jonas Lyskjær Frølund.

Thu 2 August, 16:30, Free Adm

Xie Haoming

People will not want to miss the opportunity to witness young Chinese soloist, Xie Haoming, who has been called “one of his generation’s most gifted young violinists”. Haoming, who started playing when he was just 6 years old, has won numerous awards and prizes, including the Chinese International Violin Competition and the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis.

Sun 5 August, 16:30

Also Performing:

Copenhagen Piano Quartet

Members Benedikte Damgaard, Kristina Fialova, Adam Stadnicki and Neel Teilmann will be playing pieces from Beethoven, Schnittke and Brahms.

Mon 30 July, 14.30

Carl Nielsen Wind Quintet

A lively performance ensures as the five men of Carl Nielsen Wind Quintet take to the stage to perform pieces such as Danish Rhapsodi.

Tue 31 July, 16:30

Josefine Andersson 

Swedish mezzo soprano, Josefine Andersson, will be singing numerous numbers, accompanied by Nigar Dadascheva on piano.

Wed 1 August, 16:30

Neel Teilmann, Peter Guang 

Teilmann is a well-known Danish piano soloist who has performed with several Danish orchestras. Also performing is 14 year old Peter Guang who has played the piano since he was 5 years old.

Fri 3 August, 16:30

Zapolsky Strygerne

Alexandre Zapolski conducts this chamber orchestra for young musicians and also creates most of the arrangements they play.

Sat 4 August, 16:30

Øresund Solist 10 Years Anniversary Concert

To mark the ten year anniversary of the Øresund Soloist Competition previous first prize winners from the last ten years will be presenting an exciting concert of major chamber music works such as Schubert’s incomparable quintet.

Mon 6 August, 16:30

Copenhagen Summer Festival Talent Prize

Performing will be 2012 prize winner Niklas Walentin on the violin. An incredibly talented violinist, Walentin has won awards in virtually every available Danish musical competition, including Øresund Soloist and the Jacob Gade Competition.

Tue 7 August, 16:30

Young Russian Soloists

Every year, young Russian soloists are chosen by the Spivakov Foundation to perform. This year Inga Rodina (violin), Artem Naumenko (flute), Iskandeor Khannanov (cello) and Alexander Sinchuk (piano), aged from 12 and 20, will take to the stage to perform pieces by Bach, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Sarasate and Paganini.

Wed 8 August, 16:30

Carl Nielsen competition winner

Olga Volkova, the winner of the 2012 Carl Nielsen Violin Competition, will perform. 

Thu 9 August, 16:30  

 

Copenhagen Summer Festival

Charlottenborgs Festsal, Kongens Nytorv 1, 1022 Cph K, starts Jul 29, ends Aug 9; concerts start 16.30 daily; Tickets: 100kr, 50kr for students and pensioners; 3871 1838; www.billetnet.dk or at the door; www.copenhagensummerfestival.dk