Meet the Musicians: Øystein Sonstad
interview
C
Concert Creator4 min read|23. January 2025
Welcome to our interview relay with musicians from the classical music scene! Today we are happy to present Øystein Sonstad. He works as a cellist and shares his thoughts on classical music while recommending upcoming concerts for both new and experienced concertgoers.
Name, instrument and profession?
My name is Øystein Sonstad, and I have been a cellist for 46 years (I started playing the cello at the age of 9, but I have probably felt the pull of music for as long as I can remember). I gradually became part of the flourishing environment around the music school in Trondheim, and after that there was no way back. I studied at Norges musikkhøgskole for six years (with a detour to Manchester) and have worked full time as a professional musician ever since.
What are you working on at the moment?
For many years I have alternated between performing chamber music (primarily in Oslo Strykekvartett, but also with Det norske kammerorkester and occasionally in Danmarks Underholdningsorkester with Adam Fischer - an unsurpassed combination) and arranging music for various purposes: Oslo Strykekvartett, Odd Nordstoga, Oslo Filharmonien and so on. In short, I live and breathe being creative. Besides what I have already mentioned, I am very curious about all kinds of technology and the possibilities it opens up in concerts, as well as with video, sound and light.
Most overrated composer or work?
Hmm, I am a little unsure. I find both joy and shortcomings in almost every work (a tendency you pick up when you both play and compose music), and all in all I think it evens itself out - the best composers and works endure.
And at the opposite end... what music should everyone really experience?
That is a little easier, because I have a special relationship with certain works that others may not be so wild about. I am, for example, very fond of Elgar's chamber music, which many others may not necessarily care for. But I think that is because I experienced it in exactly the right context as a teenager, when there are fewer filters and stronger emotions at play. I have almost deliberately avoided playing these works myself, because I am afraid that the magic might disappear.
Your most memorable recent concert experience - what made it so special?
Any concert where the response is good and where you feel that you are creating something special is very satisfying. Since I play so much in Oslo Strykekvartett, that is often where I experience it. But I must also mention the performance DSCH with Det norske kammerorkester - a project I am deeply involved in. Every time, and most recently in London in June, it was a spectacular success on many fronts.
Which living composer inspires you most, and why?
Hmm, that is also a difficult question. I have a mixed relationship with newly composed music in the classical field, but I have always felt that Magnar Åm's music touches me (which is a prerequisite for me to become truly enthusiastic). That does not mean that I have not also had good experiences with other composers - far from it.
Can you remember a single experience that made you want to pursue a career as a musician?
I actually think it was always on the cards, because as a child I listened to music with the ears of a composer or arranger. It has only dawned on me recently. But the great musical revelations and meeting fellow musicians in my teens naturally also played an important part.
Do you have any role models? Is there anyone who has been especially motivating or inspiring to you?
I can say straight away that Brazz Brothers resonate with me with their musicality, humour and ability to arrange music across genres. In addition, musicians such as Mstislav Rostropovich, Jaco Pastorius, Guarneri Kvartetten, Borodin Kvartetten, Arve Tellefsen... yes, the list could get long ... have shaped me at different stages. Since 2014 I have spent countless hours on YouTube experiencing the genius of Cory Henry and the fusion band Snarky Puppy.
Do you have any advice for “new listeners” who are curious about classical music but don't go to concerts very often?
Not really anything other than simply going to concerts, listening to recordings and loving what you love.
Any upcoming concerts you would like to recommend?
I have to admit that I am not the most diligent concertgoer, so I don't keep up much with concert life. I don't recommend my own concerts to friends and family either, so there is room for improvement there 😊. In Oslo Strykekvartett we are holding our annual mini-festival KvarTettPå on 15 March in Majorstuen Kirke, where we focus on two very important women: Nadia Boulanger and Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge. They taught or financially supported over 1,200 composers and works during the first part of the 20th century, and a great deal of good came of it! We call the festival Børs og katedral (“Stock exchange and cathedral”).
And finally - who are you challenging to carry the interview relay on?
I think I will pass the baton on to Marianne Thorsen in Trondheim. We played together a lot when we were at music school, and she is a musician I admire greatly.
Photo: Andrej Grilc