Rune Glerup wins the Nordic Council Music Prize 2024 for his violin concerto About Light and Lightness (Om Lys og Lethed) written for Isabelle Faust and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra.
About Light and Lightness (Om Lys og Lethed) was not just written for Isabelle Faust, it was also written thanks to her. Rune Glerup's encounter with the star violinist and her interest and energy, sparked new inspiration, after several months of doubt.
Her special way of playing, with intellect, heart and rare, delicate sensibility, struck a chord in Glerup and showed him a new path.
The Nordic Council Music Prize focuses on the performance and creation of music of a high artistic standard. It is awarded to a contemporary living composer every other year and has previously been awarded to composers like Per Nørgård, Hans Abrahamsen, Bent Sørensen, Arne Nordheim, and Sunleif Rasmussen.
Rune Glerup says:
Receiving the Nordic Council Music Prize for my violin concerto 'About Light and Lightness (Om Lys og Lethed)' is a very special honour, more so because of the Nordic nature of it. Inspired by the light and air of the North Sea, as I experienced it during the summers of my childhood, the concerto also marks a departure from Central European modernism which filled a lot of my earlier works, towards a freer and brighter musical universe, in closer contact with the Nordic culture I grew up in. That is why I am all the more grateful for this special Nordic recognition.
Loui Törnqvist, Managing Director of Edition Wilhelm Hansen says:
Rune Glerup has for many years been regarded as one of Denmark's most exciting composers, and we are proud that his music is now being honoured with the Nordic Council Music Prize. Both nationally and internationally, Rune has gained great recognition for his distinct musical language. 'About Light and Lightness (Om Lys og Lethed)' represents a new breakthrough in his music and shows how he constantly develops and challenges his musical expression. The award underlines his position as a significant composer on the Nordic music scene.
Let's celebrate by digging into Rune Glerups's music
Tyler Futrell, and Hugi Gudmundsson were among the nominees for the Nordic Council Music Prize 2024. Read more about this here.
