Magnus Larsson

INTRODUCTION

Magnus Larsson has rapidly established himself as one of Scandinavia’s most exciting young conductors. His work spans opera, symphonic repertoire, and contemporary music, earning him engagements with leading orchestras and opera houses across the Nordic region and beyond. He currently resides in Berlin, Germany.

RECENT AND FUTURE HIGHLIGHTS

In recent seasons, Larsson has been re-invited by several major Danish orchestras, including Copenhagen Phil, the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, the Odense Symphony Orchestra, and the Sønderjyllands Symphony Orchestra. His international career has also flourished, with debuts at the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra in 2023, the Gothenburg Opera (Joe Masteroff’s Cabaret in 2022 and 2023), and Wermland Opera (The 100-year-old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared in 2023).

A significant career milestone was his acclaimed debut at the Royal Danish Opera with Carl Nielsen’s Masquerade in 2021. This success led to his immediate re-engagement as assistant conductor for Shostakovich’s The Nose (2022). Larsson has contributed to notable projects at the Royal Danish Opera, including Mozart’s Così fan tutte and Dominick Argento’s Postcard from Morocco.

Equally noteworthy is his innovative reinterpretation of Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo with the Copenhagen Phil at Teater Sort/Hvid in 2023. This contemporary staging earned widespread praise for its visionary and daring approach.

Magnus Larsson has further distinguished himself with productions such as Per Nørgård’s Gilgamesh at the Rued Langgaard Festival in Ribe (2022), Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at Svendborg Opera (2021), Per Nørgård’s Nuit des Hommes at the Njord Festival in Copenhagen. He has also served as assistant conductor in Verdi’s La Traviata at NorrlandsOperan, and the Malmö Opera, in addition to conducting children’s concerts at FolkOperan in Stockholm.

In the concert hall, Larsson has collaborated with prominent ensembles such as the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, The Band of the Royal Danish Life Guards, the Prince’s Band, and the Schleswig-Holstein Military Band in Denmark, as well as the Gävle Symphony Orchestra, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Dalasinfoniettan, the Swedish Army Band, and the Mounted Band of the Life Guards in Sweden. Internationally, he has worked with orchestras like the North Czech Philharmonia Orchestra. His repertoire encompasses classical and contemporary works alongside innovative projects, such as the “60 Minutes of…” series with Copenhagen Phil. He also premiered new compositions by Bent Sørensen at the DR P2 Prize Concert in 2021 with the Odense Symphony Orchestra.

His upcoming engagements include concerts with the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra and the Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester.

BIOGRAPHY

Magnus Larsson’s artistry has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Carl Nielsen Talent Prize (2022), the Léonie Sonning Talent Prize (2020), and the EMA First Prize at the International Opera Conductor Competition in Prague (2017). He was also a recipient of The Young Artistic Elite Career Scholarship from the Danish Arts Foundation (2020) and the Arne Hammelboe Travel Grant (2021) from The Danish Conductors Association.

Born in Denmark in 1992, Magnus Larsson began his musical journey as a violinist and pianist before turning to conducting at the age of 21. He holds an Advanced Postgraduate Degree (Soloist Class) from the Royal Danish Academy of Music, where he studied under Giordano Bellincampi and Michael Schønwandt, as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm under B Tommy Andersson, Fredrik Malmberg, and Glenn Mossop. He has refined his craft further through masterclasses with esteemed conductors such as Alexander Vedernikov and Fabio Luisi.

Beyond conducting, Larsson is an accomplished organist and composer, serving as 2nd organist at Holmen’s Church (The Royal Naval Church) in Copenhagen. He is also a passionate music communicator and regularly presents programmes on Danish National Radio, DR P2