Niklas Sivelöv
Niklas Sivelöv (b. 1968) studied at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, where he made his debut as a soloist in 1991. He subsequently continued his studies in Helsinki, Bucharest and London.
Niklas is a renowned and award-winning pianist who regularly performs in Denmark and abroad. Honesty, quality, tradition and innovation/creativity are of great importance to him, both as a musician and as a teacher. He describes himself as a bridge builder, and part of a living tradition. He challenges both himself and the tradition by building further upon its cornerstones – for example by entering into unusual collaborations, such as with the jazz pianist Carsten Dahl. Niklas is one of the few classical pianists to master the art of improvisation.
In 2017, Niklas was made a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog.
Teaching
Niklas Sivelöv has been employed at RDAM since 2000, and was appointed professor in charge of piano teaching in 2008. He has left his mark on the curricula and the teaching at RDAM and has, amongst other things, been the initiator of the development of the new Master’s programme in piano and of the forthcoming Master’s programmes in repetiteurship and chamber music.
As a teacher, Niklas puts his students’ personal development and needs first. He emphasises tone, expression and technique, and equips students with tools that can be used in the course of a lifelong and progressive career.
Artistic practice
Niklas is a sought-after soloist in Denmark and abroad. His repertoire ranges from Bach, Beethoven and Schubert to Bartók, Prokofiev and Per Nørgård, encompassing around 50 piano concertos in addition to his own compositions, which include several symphonies, four piano concertos, 24 preludes for piano and several chamber music works.
Over the years, Niklas has recorded several CDs on Naxos, Toccata, BIS, Phono Suecia and AMC/Amchara Classical, amongst others. With the CD release Improvisational One, he became the first Scandinavian musician to win the award for best classical album, and received the People’s Choice Award at the Independent Music Awards. He has won many prestigious awards and has also been widely recognised for his artistic temperament, impeccable technique and intense stage presence.
In 2007-2009 Niklas was artistic director of the Engelsberg Festival: a chamber music festival presenting the leading Swedish and Danish musicians in classical, jazz, opera and folk music. Niklas has also co-organised several major festivals, including at Tivoli Gardens and at the Court Theatre in Copenhagen, as well as several under the auspices of RDAM.
- 2009: Independent Music Awards, USA, Classical Category, Vox Populi
- 1996: Diapason d’Or, for the CD Symphonies nos. 3 and 4/Piano Concerto by Franz Berwald
- 1994: Prizewinner, World Piano Competition, USA
- 1992: Prizewinner, C.I.E.M. in Geneva
- 1983: The Golden Apple, Swedish Cultural Prize
Other developmental activity (AUV)
Piano Dreams - Niklas Sivelöv and Søren Schauser
Artistic research (FOKU) project
Den Klassiske Tradition (The Classical Tradition) - Niklas Sivelöv, Thomas Solak and Hans Abrahamsen
Research
Upcoming research project with Fredrik Ullén, pianist and professor of cognitive neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm: “The learning process, flow and the musical creativity”.
Orchestra
- Symphony no. 1 “Nordico” (2013)
- Symphony no. 2 “The Myth of Sisyphus” (2015-2017)
- Symphony no. 3 “Primavera” (2016-2017)
- Sinfonietta per archi (Symphony no.4) (2018-2019)
- Symphony no. 5 “Concerto for orchestra” (2019-2020)
- Symphony no. 6 “Autunno di Ferro” (2020)
- Five pieces for string orchestra (2016-2017)
Concertos with orchestra
- Concerto no. 1 “Concerto Classico” for piano and orchestra (1998-revised 2013)
- Concerto no. 2 for piano and strings (2001-2002-revised 2013)
- Concerto no. 3 for piano and orchestra (2013)
- Concerto no. 4 for piano and orchestra (2015-2016)
- Concerto no. 5 for piano and brass band (2019)
- Concerto no. 6 for piano and Chamber orchestra “Earth Rites” (2019-2020)
- Concertino for tuba and brass band (2018)
- Concerto for cello and orchestra “Arctic Fantasy” (2020)
Chamber music
- Divertimento per archi a tre (1986-revised 2012)
- String quartet no. 1 (1989)
- String quartet no. 2 (2013)
- String quartet no. 3 (2018)
- String quartet no. 4 (2019)
- Touché for percussion quartet (2008)
- Duo for marimba and vibraphone (2012)
Chamber music with piano
- Dance of the Bull for trombone and piano (1985)
- Three pieces for trombone and piano (1989)
- Sonata for tuba and piano (1992)
- Tres Danzas for tuba and piano (1994)
- Sonata quasi una rhapsodia for violin and piano (1995)
- Sonata for flute and piano (1996)
- Introduction and Allegro for oboe and piano (2002)
- The Submarine Pussycat and Paganini and the Turtle for clarinet and piano (2004) (Intro & Allegro in version for clarinet)
- Suite for percussion and piano (2005)
- The Spiders Nest for cello and piano (2005-revised 2013)
- Piano trio no. 1 “The NY trio” for violin, cello and piano (2007)
- Piano trio no. 2 (2013-2014)
- Sonata for cello and piano (2013-2014)
- Les Chauves-souris Chorégraphique for 2 pianos (2015)
Solo
- The Rage of the Chameleon for piano (1986)
- Due Nottorni for piano (1989)
- Two pieces for piano (1996)
- Two improvisations for piano (2009)
- Album for the Youth book 1 (2010)
- Bellmania for piano (2010)
- Suite in modo classico for piano (2010)
- Preludes Naturelles for piano (2011)
- Arctic Fantasy for piano (2011)
- Sonata no. 1 for piano (2011-2012)
- 24 Preludes for piano (2010-2013)
- Little Dracula´s Diary for piano (2013-2014)
- Sonata no. 2 for piano (2015)
- Toccata for piano (2015)
- Suite para marimba (1995)
- Twist and Shout (The Puppet) for clarinet solo (1993)
Voice
- Three songs for high voice and vibraphone (1989) (Lyrics by Dan Andersson)
- Three songs in version for high voice and piano (2014)
- 4 songs in popular style: Time, Like Me, Dreams, Midway and Past
Niklas regularly gives masterclasses in many parts of Europe as well as in the USA and China, including the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, Berlin University of the Arts, Yale School of Music, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, St Petersburg Conservatory of Music, Amalfi International Piano festival, Sibelius Academy of Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media, Central Conservatory of Music, Toronto University of Music, Northwestern University of Music, and Eastman School of Music.
In addition, Niklas works with Distance Learning and has held sessions with Yale School of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, Sibelius Academy, Manhattan School of Music, Shanghai Conservatory, Shanghai Middle School, Tianjin Middle School, Indiana University and others.
In China, he is Honorary President at the International Arts Training Centre in Harbin, and Visiting Professor of Piano at Lanke Lianzhu Arts Academy, Lianzhu.
Niklas also has 25 Erasmus exchanges under his belt, with Universities and Academies in Helsinki, Riga, Hanover, Trieste, Oslo, St Petersburg, Mantova, Vienna, Kraków, Berlin, Geneva, Neuchâtel, Berlin and Stockholm, as well as a large number of non-Erasmus exchanges with the USA and China: Denver, North Park and Northwestern Universities in Chicago, Aaron Copland School of Music in New York, Cleveland Institute of Music, Central Conservatory in Beijing and schools in Shenyan, Shanghai, Xian, Hangzhou, Kaifeng and Tianjin in China.
Moderatorship/ jury membership
Jury member at:
The Ilmari Hannikainen Competition, Finland
The Tivoli International Competition, Denmark
The Swedish Soloist Prize, Stockholm
The Ricard Viñes International Competition, Spain
The Helmi Vesa Competition, Finland
International Piano Competition in Langzhou, China
Copenhagen Lied-Duo Competition
Member of the recruitment committee for several new positions, including first assistant lecturer and professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music.
Member of the evaluation committee for Kristian Ofstad Lindberg’s research project 2015-2019 at the Norwegian Academy of Music: “Transcending the Piano Tradition” - “The Orchestral Piano”.
https://nmh.no/forskning/prosjekter/det-orkestrale-klaveret
https://nmh.no/forskning/prosjekter/the-orchestral-piano
Representative duties, directorships
CEO of the recording company AMC/Amchara Classical.
Book publications
Søren Schauser and Niklas Sivelöv (2018) “Piano Dreams”. Royal Danish Academy of Music
Niklas Sivelöv, Thomas Solak and Hans Abrahamsen (2001) “Den Klassiske Tradition”. Royal Danish Academy of Music
Score publications
Niklas Sivelöv
Sonata for Cello and Piano
AMC amchara Music
Niklas Sivelöv
24 Preludes for piano
AMC amchara Music
Niklas Sivelöv
Album for the youth – Dracula’s Diary, 10 movements
Ovationmusic OV0574
Niklas Sivelöv
Piano Concerto no. 1-5
STIM/Svensk Musik
Niklas Sivelöv
Symphony no. 1-4
STIM/Svensk Musik
See more at: STIM/Svensk Musik
CD releases
Per Nørgård
Tidlige Klaverværker
Niklas Sivelöv
Dacapo 6.220590
Wilhelm Stenhammar, Ernst Moritz Arndt, Theodor Storm
Katzen – Phantastische Geschichten
Niklas Sivelöv, Maria Sebaldt
Naxos Hörbuch NHB10502
Franz Berwald
Symphonies nos. 3 and 4/Piano Concerto
Niklas Sivelöv, Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, Okko Kamu
Naxos 8.553052
Einar Englund
Symphonies nos. 2 and 4/Piano Concerto No. 1
Niklas Sivelöv, Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, Jorma Panula
Naxos 8.553758
Franz Liszt
Beethoven Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3 (Transcriptions)
Niklas Sivelöv
Naxos 8.554493
Wilhelm Peterson-Berger
Fowers from Froso Island/Frösöblomster
Niklas Sivelöv
Naxos 8.554343
Wilhelm Stenhammar
Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2
Niklas Sivelöv, Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Mario Venzago
Naxos 8.572259
Wilhelm Stenhammar
Piano Works
Niklas Sivelöv
Naxos 8.553730
Bach, Schumann, Poulenc, Schnittke, Villa-Lobos
Leonid Gorokhov, Niklas Sivelöv
AMC Amchara Classical
J.S. Bach:
Das wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 1 & 2
Niklas Sivelöv
HvB Records HVB1501
L.v. Beethoven
Late Sonatas
Niklas Sivelöv
AMC Amchara Classical
Joseph Haydn
Sonatas & Variations
Niklas Sivelöv
AMC Amchara Classical
Songs and Collaborations
Niklas Sivelöv
AMC Amchara Classical
Stravinsky, Dallapiccola, Reger, Schnittke,
Fratres
Szymon Krzeszowiec, Niklas Sivelöv
DUX
J.S. Bach:
towards the c
Niklas Sivelöv
AMC/Amchara Classical
Robert Schumann
Niklas Sivelöv plays Robert Schumann
Niklas Sivelöv
CAP 21518
Various composers
Svensk Pianomusik Vol. II – Sommercroquiser
Niklas Sivelöv
Phono Suecia PSCD 718
Wlodek Gulgowski
13 Works for Piano
Niklas Sivelöv
Phono Suecia PSCD 065
Ginestera, Piazzolla, Guastavino
Piano Music of Argentina
Niklas Sivelöv
RSN3003
Alexander Scriabin
Vers La Flamme – Niklas Sivelöv Plays Scriabin
Niklas Sivelöv
CAP 21742
Carl Michael Bellman
Improvisational One – Piano Improvisations Inspired by Carl Michael Bellman
Niklas Sivelöv
CAP 21776
J.S. Bach, Zoltan Kodaly
Three Sonatas, Three Chorals
Morten Zeuthen, Niklas Sivelöv
CLASSCD752
R. Schumann
Piano Sonatas
Niklas Sivelöv
AR003
Lars Ekström
The Dream Age
Niklas Sivelöv, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ondrej Kukal, Markus Leoson, the Sonanza Ensemble, Jan Risberg, the Stockholm Sinfonietta, Jorma Panula
Phono Suecia PSCD 065
As pianist and composer
Niklas Sivelöv
Uncut
Thommy Andersson, Lelo Nika, Zoltan Csorsz, Niklas Sivelöv
AR002
Niklas Sivelöv
Continuum
Niklas Sivelöv, MCI Ensemble
Amchara Classical AMC005
Niklas Sivelöv
Exposé
Niklas Sivelöv
Amchara Classical AMC001
Niklas Sivelöv
Piano Music
Niklas Sivelöv
TOCC0271
Niklas Sivelöv
Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 2 and 5
Niklas Sivelöv, Malmö Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Swedish Cavalry Band, Victor Aviat, David Björkman
Naxos 8.573181
Niklas Sivelöv and others
Danzas – Music for Tuba & Piano
Øystein Baadsvik, Niklas Sivelöv
BIS-1585 CD
Niklas Sivelöv, Lelo Nika
Duography
Lelo Nika, Niklas Sivelöv
AR009
As composer
Niklas Sivelöv and others
Contemporary Chamber Music for Tuba
Øystein Baadsvik, Swedish Brass Quintet
Simax PSC1101
Various composers, incl. Niklas Sivelöv
Music for Clarinet and Percussion
Niklas Brommare, Martin Fröst
BIS-744 CD
Niklas Sivelöv
Orchestral Works - Symphony no. 3 and 4, and 5 pieces for strings
Malmö Opera Orchestra, Joachim Gustafsson
Toccata TOCC0571
Niklas Sivelöv and others
Malletiana (including Suite para Marimba)
Marcus Leoson
CAP 21743
Collections
Various composers
Swedish Romance for Meditation
Niklas Sivelöv and others
Naxos 8.570303
Various Composers
150th Anniversary of the Royal Danish Academy of Music
Niklas Sivelöv
Dacapo 8.201202
Various composers
Nordic Piano Favourites
Niklas Sivelöv and others
Naxos 8.557425
Various composers
Classical Chill
Niklas Sivelöv and others
Naxos 8.520101
Various composers
Fanga Dagen
Niklas Sivelöv and others
Naxos 8.578216
Planned
J.S. Bach:
Complete English Suites and Partitas
AMC/Amchara Classical
For release in 2021-22
Inertia
Niklas Sivelöv & Carsten Dahl
AMC/Amchara Classical
F. Liszt, R. Strauss, L.v. Beethoven
Peter Lodahl, Niklas Sivelöv
L.v. Beethoven
Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 4
Niklas Sivelöv, Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Joachim Gustafsson
Niklas Sivelöv
Symphonies 1 & 5
Arctic Fantasy for cello and orchestra
Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Joachim Gustafsson
Toccata Records
2021
At the House of Pianos
Works by Bach and Beethoven on Historical Instruments
AMC/Amchara Classical
2022
Skrjabin, Langgaard
Fire and flames
Niklas Sivelöv
AMC Amchara Classical
2022
Skrjabin
Complete Sonatas for Piano
AMC Amchara Classical
2023
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