Musicians
Ailloš
NORWEGIAN SAME
Iŋgor Ántte Áilu Gaup, better known as Ailloš, is a prominent Sámi musician, composer, actor, and teacher. The Sami are the indigenous people of Sápmi, which spans central and northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula in Russia. Ailloš grew up in a reindeer herding family on the tundra of northernmost Norway and is a recognized master of joik – the traditional vocal art form of the Sami people.
Anne Mette Stæhr
PIANO
Since Anne Mette Stæhr first performed at Late Summer Festival in 2014, she has further consolidated her reputation as one of the country’s most prominent chamber musicians, especially in vocal music. Her versatility is evident in her work, which ranges from solo performances to collaborations with Danish symphony orchestras and chamber music ensembles. She is employed as an associate professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, where she teaches piano, chamber music and accompaniment as her main subjects.
Frank Reinecke
DOUBLE BASS
Frank Reinecke is a spectacular German double bassist and a recognized expert in microtonal music. He began his musical journey as a violinist at the age of just 5 and later switched to double bass. With decades of experience, Frank is a versatile musician who has released several solo CDs and mastered classical and older music traditions. He is a member of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and has formed a duo with Helge Slaatto for several years.
Jonathan Slaatto
CELLO
Jonathan has won prizes at several renowned competitions, including ARD Munich, Melbourne International Music Competition, and Joseph Haydn Wettbewerb in Vienna. He performs regularly as a chamber musician in Denmark, Europe, and the USA and has been a soloist with orchestras such as the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and DR SymfoniOrkestret. Jonathan has also given masterclasses at the Lake District Festival in England and teaches chamber music at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen. He is also a member of Ensemble MidtVest, Trio Ondine, and the Danish Clarinet Trio.
Laurits Dragsted
PIANO
Laurits Dragsted is a versatile pianist and a tireless source of inspiration for the Opera Academy’s talented singers. His collaboration with star soprano Louise McClelland Jacobsen, in particular, has taken them both far and wide, impressing audiences with memorable musical experiences. Laurits’ main goal is to let the music communicate directly to the listener while resonating with the musicians he plays with.
Li-Or Ginnerup
VIOLIN
Violinist Li-Or Ginnerup has studied with Professor Helge Slaatto at MGK Copenhagen from 2020 to 2023 and is now continuing his education under Professor Peter Herresthal at the Royal Danish Academy of Music. His considerable talent was recently recognized when he won first prize in the Jacob Gade Chamber Music Competition last year. In 2022, Li-Or made a name for himself at the Arosa Kurswochen in Switzerland, where he participated in exciting projects including concerts in Herstedvester Prison and special classical concerts for children.
Louise McClelland Jacobsen
SOPRANO
It is with great pride that we welcome soprano Louise McClelland Jacobsen to this year’s festival. The brilliant singer has recently been honored as ‘P2 Talent of the Year 2024’ – a title she rightfully bears. Despite her young age, Louise has already established herself as an experienced performing artist with an impressively broad repertoire ranging from opera at the Royal Theatre to innovative chamber music projects. She is undoubtedly one of the voices we’ll be hearing a lot more of in the future.
Martin Qvist Hansen
PIANO
Martin Qvist Hansen has been a central part of Ensemble MidtVest since 2002 and gave an unforgettable performance at Late Summer Festival 2019 with the Danish Clarinet Trio. As a member of Trio Ondine, he has achieved recognition with a number of national and international awards. His career spans Europe and the US, where he has performed in some of the most prestigious concert halls, from Konzerthaus Berlin to Carnegie Hall. Martin is also a dedicated teacher at the Royal Academy of Music, where he shares his expertise in piano and chamber music.
Michala Petri
RECORDER
An eminent virtuoso on the recorder, Michala Petri has had a significant impact on both the Danish and international music scene for almost half a century. She has not only expanded the repertoire of the recorder but also transformed the perception of the instrument. From a young age, a number of composers have composed works especially for her, a testament to her unique talent. Petri has constantly worked to expand the musical possibilities of the recorder, and today she has mastered a repertoire ranging from traditional Baroque music to modern compositions, cementing her status as one of the most essential recorder players of our time.
Moritz Salger
DIABOLO JUGGLER
This year we have the special pleasure of presenting Moritz Salger, a Vertax Diabolo Jongleur extraordinaire. A graduate of the Academy of Circus and Performance Art in the Netherlands, Moritz brings a rare performance style to Europe. He has focused on introducing Western audiences to Vertex Diabolo as a form of artistic expression where the diabolo becomes part of a dance in harmony with the music. With his impressive artistic achievements and confident performance, festival-goers can look forward to experiencing his remarkable talent and interaction with music this year.
Nicolas Dautricourt
VIOLIN
Nicolas Dautricourt, born in 1977 in Épinal, France, is a prominent French violinist. Trained at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris under the guidance of Gérard Poulet and Jean-Jacques Kantorow, Nicolas has won numerous international violin competitions. He often performs as a soloist with top orchestras, including the Berliner Symphoniker, Orchestre National de France, and Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and is a sought-after chamber musician. He has collaborated with renowned musicians such as pianists Itamar Golan and Frank Braley and cellist Gautier Capuçon.
Sanna Ripatti
VIOLA
Sanna Ripatti, who has been an integral part of Ensemble MidtVest since its inception in 2002, has completed her viola training under the guidance of Diemut Poppen in Saarbrücken, Germany, Björn Sjögren in Edsberg, Sweden, and Arvo Haasma in Lahti, Finland. Sanna has shown her commitment to the viola by winning several awards and receiving nominations for her collaborations with Ensemble MidtVest and the Kroger Quartet. Her passion extends beyond playing; she is dedicated to introducing classical music to new listeners and opening their eyes to the world of music.
Kv. Arken
ANNIKA JESSEN, CLARINET - ELINA NYGREN, VIOLA - ANNA THORSTENSSON, CELLO
The trio Kv.Arken, founded in 2017 and named after the neighborhood in Malmö where the musicians live, consists of Annika Jessen on clarinet, Elina Nygren on viola, and Anna Thorstensson on cello. These three Swedish musicians have previously performed at Late Summer Festival, where they have successfully engaged the audience by taking the music beyond the edge of the stage. Their enchanting interpretations of Nordic klezmer music are both captivating and intense, characterized by deep musical nerve and a captivating drive in their newly composed melodies.
Nordic Voices
TONE BRAATEN, SOPRANO - INGRID HANKEN, SOPRANO - EBBA RYDH, ALTO - PER KRISTIAN AMUNDRØD, TENOR - FRANK HAVRØY, BARITONE - ROLF MAGNE ASSER, BASS
Established in 1996, Nordic Voices is a prominent six-voice a cappella group composed of talented graduates from the Norwegian Academy of Music and the Norwegian National Opera School. The group is known for its artistic creativity, clear communication, impressive versatility, and technical precision – key elements that define the essence of an extraordinary performing arts ensemble. With their unique sound, Nordic Voices have gained international recognition, making a name for themselves on stages not only in Norway and Europe but also in more distant places like South Africa, Japan, and Bolivia, as well as frequent tours in the US and Canada.
Axel Borup-Jørgensen
COMPOSER
Axel Borup-Jørgensen was born in 1924 in Hjørring, Denmark. When he was still a child, his family moved to Sweden where his first significant encounter with classical music took place when his piano teacher showed him the slow movement from Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. In 1970, his orchestral work MARIN was awarded an international prize, and in 2018, an animated film based on MARIN won the German Opus Klassik Prize and the Danish Music Award DR/P2 Prisen 2019.
Cecilie Ore
COMPOSER
Cecilie Ore stands out as one of the most fascinating Norwegian composers, with a deep impact on the national and international music scenes. Her works, sought after by leading ensembles in Europe and the USA, reflect an impressive career trajectory graced with numerous prestigious awards from home and abroad. Characterized by a modern compositional language, Ore explores fundamental human themes such as time, capital punishment, and freedom, giving her music a depth and relevance that resonates far beyond the concert hall.
Lasse Thoresen
COMPOSER
Lasse Thoresen is a prominent figure in Norwegian compositional music, deeply rooted in the country’s rich folk music heritage. He has managed to integrate these traditions into his music in a way that is both respectful and innovative, avoiding direct imitation of the original musical language. Thoresen’s works are characterized by a unique ability to communicate, even within the framework of modern musical expression. He is constantly on the lookout for new musical territories to explore, as seen at this year’s festival, where he introduces us to the world of the Sami and the enchanted universe of joik through Allioš’ charismatic performance.
Lil Lacy
COMPOSER
Lil Lacy, with roots in Denmark and the USA, is always on the move—in her creative work as a composer and in life in general. Her incessant curiosity and willingness to experiment takes her across musical genres and styles, with her role as a performer playing a central part. Her work and talent have been recognized with numerous awards and honors, especially highlighted by her contribution to the young composers collective. Lil Lacy is undoubtedly an artist that deserves attention now and in the future.
Mats Eden, composer
COMPOSER
Composer Mats Eden is a leading Swedish folk musician with roots in Värmland, who teaches at the Malmö Academy of Music. His violin playing is both elegant and rough, and the audience at this year’s Late Summer Festival can look forward to an exciting experience when he as a composer, together with Kv. Arken, takes concertgoers by storm. Mats Eden has several successful solo albums for ECM and has earned the prestigious title Riksspelman – a true master musician.
Anette & Helge Slaatto
VIOLA / VIOLIN & ARTISTIC DIRECTORS OF LATE SUMMER FESTIVAL
Anette has made a name for herself as an excellent interpreter of contemporary music, with excellent reviews in both Danish and international press. Her appearances on CDs such as ‘The Secret Melody’, ‘The Planets’ and Axel Borup Jørgensen’s ‘Viola Works’, as well as a successful recording of Bach’s solo suites, underline her position as one of today’s leading musicians. Since 2014, she has been the artistic director of the Late Summer Festival and Lindegaard Concerts together with Helge Slaatto. Her deep commitment to classical music and ability to create an inclusive atmosphere has been instrumental in bringing classical music to new audiences on the West Coast through the Late Summer Festival in Hvide Sande.
Helge, with 25 years of experience as a professor at the Musikhøjskolen in Münster and now at MGK Copenhagen, has enriched the classical music scene with countless concerts and master classes in Europe and the USA. His collaboration with double bassist Frank Reinecke has resulted in over 50 original works, and their duo has received the Preis der Deutschen Schallplat- tenkritik award. Helge’s latest project, ‘Nordic Songs and Romances’ with Anne Mette Stæhr, received five stars in Kristeligt Dagblad, a testament to his ongoing contribution to the world of music. Together with Anette, Helge has created a platform at the Late Summer Festival that explores the boundaries of classical music and brings it closer to the audience along the west coast of Jutland.
