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The Danish harpsichordist and conductor, Lars Ulrik Mortensen, studied at The Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen (harpsichord with Karen Englund, figured bass with Jesper Bøje Christensen) and with Trevor Pinnock in London.
From 1988 to 1990 Lars Ulrik Mortensen was harpsichordist with London Baroque and from 1990 to 1993 he was a member of Collegium Musicum 90 (leader: Simon Standage). Together with John Holloway and David Watkin he is a member of the Trio Veracini. He now works extensively as a soloist and chamber-musician in Europe, the USA, Mexico, South America and Japan, performing regularly with distinguished colleagues such as Emma Kirkby, John Holloway, and Jaap ter Linden, as well as with chamber ensembles such as The Consort of Musicke and Red Byrd.
Lars Ulrik Mortensen has recorded extensively for numerous labels including DGG-Archive, EMI and Kontrapunkt, and has received a number of prizes and distinctions, among them the Danish Music Critics´ Award in 1984. His recording of Bach´s Goldberg Variations (BWV 988) was awarded the French "Diapason d´Or". A series of Dietrich Buxtehude recordings for the Danish label Dacapo has met with universal critical acclaim. It includes the first complete recording of D. Buxtehude´s chamber music with John Holloway and Jaap ter Linden, which received the Danish "Grammy" Award for best classical recording of the year; a CD of cantatas with Emma Kirkby was awarded another "Grammy", and Lars Ulrik Mortensen became "Danish Musician of the Year 2000" for his three CD´s with harpsichord music by D. Buxtehude. These recordings also received the "Cannes Classical Award 2001". Other recent recordings include the sonatas "Unarum Fidium" by Johann Heinrich Schmelzer with John Holloway and Aloysia Assenbaum, which was released on the prestigious ECM New Series label in 1999.
Lars Ulrik Mortensen is also increasingly to be heard as conductor, among others of the Scandinavian Baroque orchestra Concerto Copenhagen, of which he is also artistic director. In the year 2000 he made his conducting debut at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen to great critical acclaim.
Lars Ulrik Mortensen is also a renowned teacher: Professor for Harpsichord and Performance Practice at the Hochschule für Musik in Munich from 1996 to 1999, he teaches at numerous courses for Baroque music throughout the world as well as being the harpsichord tutor for the European Union Baroque Orchestra. He is a member of the juries of several international harpsichord competitions. |
