Meet the musicians: Theodor Lyngstad
interview
L
Live Klassisk3 min read|10. September 2024
Welcome to our interview relay with musicians from the classical music scene! Today we are delighted to introduce Theodor Lyngstad. He works as principal cellist in Copenhagen Phil. Here he shares his thoughts on classical music and recommends upcoming concerts for both new and experienced concertgoers!
Name, instrument and profession (possibly place of work or study)
Theodor Lyngstad, cello, principal cellist in Copenhagen Phil.
What are you working on at the moment?
At the moment I am preparing for our season opening in Copenhagen Phil with Bruckner's Fifth Symphony, plus Brahms' string quintet, which I am to play in the orchestra's chamber music series: Halv Tolv.
Most overrated composer or work?
Unpopular opinion: I do not like the Carl Nielsen symphonies. (Now I am guaranteed to be cancelled in Denmark.) They have some great energy, but are so difficult to play that they are not worth the hours of practice if you ask me.
And at the opposite end... which music is underrated and should be experienced by more people?
I love the symphonies of Sibelius. They are perhaps not underrated, but I would like to play them even more!
Your latest great concert experience – what made it so special (either as performer or audience)?
Det Kgl. teater's production of Tristan and Isolde was a great musical highlight for me in the spring. The music and the orchestra gave me an experience that stayed in my body for many hours. Recently I also heard Augustin Hadelich and Aarhus Symfoniorkester play the best Tchaikovsky violin concerto I have experienced!
Do you have any role models? Is there anyone who has been particularly motivating or inspiring for you?
All the teachers I have had, from music school to the conservatoire, have been supportive, positive and inspiring. I am so grateful that they taught me to trust myself and my musicality, rather than breaking me down and imposing other people's ways of playing on me. I hope I can pass that on too.
Do you have any advice for “new listeners” who are curious about classical music and do not go to concerts very often?
Be open and curious. It is okay to find something boring or ugly, and every concert does not have to be life-changing. Everyone has different tastes, but if you keep challenging your taste you may discover something fantastic.
Are there any upcoming concerts you would recommend?
I would like to recommend Copenhagen Phil's season opening with our new Chief Conductor Cristoph Gedschold on 20 September. The programme is Bruckner and Bach with our two fantastic concertmasters Jon Gjesme and Teresa La Cour as soloists. Fantastic music, in a fantastic concert hall. It can also be heard in Roskilde on 19 September.
-Personally I am greatly looking forward to Isabelle Faust and Alexander Melnikov, who play in Den Sorte Diamant on 25 September. Two of my absolute favourite musicians.
“Minister for classical music” in Denmark for a day – what would you do?
I would focus on the conservatoires. For musical life in Denmark to keep flourishing and developing, we depend on the conservatoires being an integral part of musical life, and training musicians who can fill and develop it. The fantastic teachers and students deserve more teaching weeks, more principal-study lessons and an education that has time to look after each individual student's needs.
Concert attire: formal or casual?
Whatever you feel like!
Applause between movements: for or against?
-For! I am always happy when the audience applauds between movements. It means there are new concertgoers in the audience, and that they are happy with what they hear.
4
Finally, who would you like to challenge to take over the baton?
I would like to challenge Kaja Marie Andersen from Aalborg Symfoniorkester
Photo: Julia Severinsen