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Bio

Biography

Swedish cellist Torleif Thedéen is one of the most distinguished instrumentalists in the Nordic countries and enjoys an international profile as a recitalist, concerto soloist, recording artist and pedagogue. He is a first prize winner of international cello competitions, including the Casals Competition. He is Visiting Professor of cello at the Royal College of Music in London and Professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo.

In a career spanning four decades, Torleif has performed with some of the world’s greatest orchestras, among them the Czech Philharmonic, Netherlands Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, DSO Berlin, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, The Hallé Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic, City of Birmingham SO,Dresden philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic and BBC Philharmonic. He has worked with conductors including Esa-Pekka Salonen, Paavo Berglund, Petrenko, Neeme Järvi, Paavo Järvi, Franz Welser-Möst, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Osmo Vänskä, Mario Venzago and Leif Segerstam. He continues to perform with all the major Nordic orchestras and enjoys a burgeoning relationship with orchestras and festivals in the Antipodes.

As a chamber musician, Torleif is familiar with the prestigious stages of the Wigmore Hall in London, Carnegie Hall in New York, Philharmonie in Berlin and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. He has appeared at the Prague Spring and the Verbier Festivals, and at the chamber music festivals in Schleswig-Holstein, Bordeaux, Oslo, Bath, Stavanger, Kuhmo and beyond. His collaborators have included Janine Jansen, Marianna Shirinyan, Julian Rachlin, Itamar Golan, Maxim Rysanov, Leif Ove Andsnes, Marc-André Hamelin, Lars Anders Tomter, Henning Kraggerud, Roland Pöntinen and Martin Fröst. Thedeen is since 2005 member of Spectrum concerts in Berlin, having performed numerous concerts in die Philharmone, Kammermusiksaal, Berlin.

Torleif’s recordings have attracted numerous accolades. He was awarded the Edison Prize in 2018 for his recording of Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time with Martin Fröst, Lucas Debargue and Janine Jansen on the Sony label. His recording of the Shostakovich Cello Concertos won a Cannes Classical Award and his account of the Bach Cello Suites was selected as a ‘Choice of the month’ by BBC Music Magazine. His discography also includes the concertos of Dvořák, Elgar, Saint-Saens, Lalo,Kabalevsky,Lutoslawski and a wealth of contemporary music. He plays the 1783 Guadagnini cello on loan from the Norwegian Dextra foundation, previously owned by M. Rostropovich.

Reviews

Latest Reviews

September, 18th 2014
A most valuable friend: Torleif Thedéen guests for the Selby & Friends concert series | For Bachtrack By Zoltán Szab

The chances to hear two recitals on consecutive nights, featuring exceptional artists of international renown in the friendly environment and outstanding acoustics of the City Recital Hall are akin to winning a (musical) lottery in Sydney, for professionally organised solo or chamber music concerts are still in scarce supply there. Yet this is exactly what happened following Monday night’s recital of Stephen Hough when on Tuesday I was able to witness Torleif Thedéen (cello) and Kathryn Selby (piano) performing together.Read More

May, 23rd 2014
Eleganz ohne Effekt

Beliner Zeitung, by Peter Uehling

[…] In ähnlicher Weise an der Oberfläche bleibt Lehninger in Haydns Cellokonzert C-Dur, nur dass ihm hier mit Thorleif Thedéen ein überaus souveräner Gestalter als Solist gegenübertritt. Der schwedische Cellist steigt schneller ein als Lehninger angefangen hat und steckt damit gleich sein eigenes Terrain ab. Mutig spielt Thedéen mit fast heiserem Ton, der aber die musikalische Linie so ungleich differenzierter schattiert als das Orchester. In der zeitgenössischen Kadenz buchstabiert Thedéen diesen klanglichen Reichtum bis hin zu Flageolett-Tönen aus. […]

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April, 14th 2010
Brahms: Cello Sonatas – Torleif Thedéen, Roland Pöntinen | AllMusic Review by Mike D. Brownell

[…] The duo create what is quite simply one of the most engaging, riveting recordings these works have received in more than a decade. Thedéen’s playing is technically immaculate, with a pure, penetrating tone that is even across the range of his instrument, flawless intonation, and broad-ranging dynamics. His approach to the sonatas is one of intensity and subtlety, expansiveness, and large, sweeping gestures. […]

www.allmusic.com

April, 26th 2006
Lalo: Orchestral works/Bakels | For Classics Today by David Hurwitz

[…] The performances here are stunning. Torleif Thedéen is a terrific soloist, playing every note as if he really means it, and while he’s not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve (the finale’s introduction), it’s never to the point where he sounds sleazy. […]

www.classicstoday.com

Audio

Recordings Selection

An die Musik

An die Musik

Torleif Thedéen – cello
Marianna Shirinyan – piano

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Bloch

Live from Wiener Konzerthaus

Khachaturian: Cello Concerto

Aram Khachaturian:
Cello Concerto in E minor
Concerto-Rhapsody for Cello in D minor

Torleif Thedéen – cello
Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie
Daniel Raiskin – conductor

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Robert Kahn: Cello Sonatas & Two Pieces

Robert Kahn:
Kahn, R: Cello Sonata No. 1 in F, Op. 37
Kahn, R: Three Pieces, Op. 25
Kahn, R: Cello Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 56

Torleif Thedéen – cello
Oliver Triendl – piano

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Haydn: Cello Concerto

Joseph Haydn:
Cello Concerto in C major

Torleif Thedéen – cello

Live from Philharmonie Berlin

LIVE Recorded on 21.05.2014

 

Kabalevsky: Cello Concertos 1 & 2

Dmitri Kabalevsky:
Cello Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 49
Cello Concerto No. 2, Op. 77
Colas Breugnon

Torleif Thedéen – cello
Hannover Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
Eiji Oue – conductor
Adrian Prabava – conductor

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Lalo – Orchestral Works

Édouard Lalo:
Concerto in D minor for Cello and Orchestra
Symphony in G minor
Namouna, music from ballet

Torleif Thedéen – cello
Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra
Kees Bakels – conductor

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Brahms – Cello Sonatas

Johannes Brahms:
Sonata No.1 in E minor for Cello and Piano, Op.38
Sonata No.2 in F major for Cello and Piano, Op.99
Sonata in D major, arranged for cello and piano by Paul Klengel from Violin Sonata No.1 in G major, Op.78

Roland Pöntinen – piano
Torleif Thedéen – cello

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Antonín Dvořák – Music for cello and orchestra

Antonín Dvorák:
Concerto in B minor for Cello and Orchestra, Op.104
The Water Goblin, symphonic poem, Op. 107
Karneval, concert overture, Op. 92

Torleif Thedéen – cello
Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra
Kees Bakels – conductor

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J.S. Bach – Six Suites for Solo Cello

Johann Sebastian Bach:
Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007
Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008
Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009
Suite No. 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010
Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011
Suite No. 6 in D major, BVW 1012

Torleif Thedéen – cello

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Saint-Saëns – Cello Concertos

Camille Saint-Saëns:
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra No.1 in A minor, Op.33 (1873)
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra No.2 in D minor, Op.119 (1902)
Symphony in A major (1854-56)

Torleif Thedéen – cello
Tapiola Sinfonietta
Jean-Jacques Kantorow – conductor

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Dmitri Shostakovich – Cello Concertos Nos.1 & 2

Dmitri Shostakovich:
Concerto No.1 for Cello and Orchestra, Op.107 (1959)
Concerto No.2 for Cello and Orchestra, Op.126 (1966)

Torleif Thedéen – cello
Malmö Symphony Orchestra
James De Preist – conductor

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Photo

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Contact

Contact

Interartists Amsterdam

Hylke van Lingen – General Management
Phone: +31 611 711 720
Email: hylke.v.lingen@interartists.nl
Web: www.interartists.nl

 

Robert Gilder & Co.

Robert Gilder – Managing Director
Email: rgilder@robert-gilder.com
Web: www.robertgilder.co