Meet the musicians: Øystein Sonstad
interview
C
Concert Creator22. January 2025
Welcome to our interview relay featuring musicians from the classical music scene! Today, we are delighted to present Øystein Sonstad. He works as a cellist and shares his thoughts on classical music while recommending upcoming concerts for both new and seasoned concertgoers.
Name, instrument, and profession?
My name is Øystein Sonstad, and I have been a cellist for 46 years (I started playing the cello when I was 9, but I have probably felt music as far back as I can remember). I eventually became part of the thriving community around the music school in Trondheim, and there was no turning back. I studied at the Norwegian Academy of Music for six years (with a break in Manchester) and have since worked full-time as a professional musician.
What are you currently working on?
For many years, I have alternated between performing chamber music (mainly with the Oslo String Quartet, but also with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and occasionally the Danish Underholdningsorkester with Adam Fischer—a truly unbeatable combination) and arranging music for various settings: Oslo String Quartet, Odd Nordstoga, the Oslo Philharmonic, and so on. In short, I live and breathe creativity. In addition to what I mentioned, I am deeply curious about all kinds of technology and its possibilities in concerts, as well as with video, sound, and lighting.
Most overrated composer or piece?
Hmm, I’m unsure about this. I find both joy and faults in almost every piece of music (a tendency you develop when you both play and compose music), and overall, I think it balances itself out—the best composers and pieces endure.
And on the opposite end… which music should everyone truly experience?
This is a bit easier since I have a relationship with certain music that others might not favor as much. For instance, I am very fond of Elgar’s chamber music, which many others may not necessarily like. But I think it’s because I experienced these works in the right setting as a teenager, a time when there are fewer filters and stronger emotions at play. I’ve almost deliberately avoided playing such pieces myself because I’m afraid the magic might fade.
Your most memorable recent concert experience—what made it so special?
Any concert where the response is good and where there’s a sense of creating something special is highly satisfying. Since I play so much with the Oslo String Quartet, that’s where I often experience it. But I must also mention the performance of DSCH with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, a project in which I am heavily involved. Every time, and most recently in London this June, it was a spectacular success on many fronts.
Which living composer inspires you the most, and why?
Hmm, that’s a difficult question too. I have a mixed relationship with newly composed music within the classical field, but I’ve always felt that Magnar Åm’s music moves me (which is a prerequisite for me to be enthusiastic). That’s not to say I haven’t had positive experiences with other composers—far from it.
Can you recall a single event or experience that made you want to pursue a career in music?
I think it was always in the cards since, as a child, I listened to music with the ears of a composer or arranger. This has only struck me in recent years. However, the major revelations of music and fellow musicians I encountered as a teenager were, of course, also influential.
Do you have any role models? Has anyone been particularly motivating or inspiring for you?
I can immediately say that the Brazz Brothers have resonated strongly with me, with their musicianship, humor, and ability to arrange music across genres. Additionally, musicians like Mstislav Rostropovich, Jaco Pastorius, the Guarneri Quartet, the Borodin Quartet, Arve Tellefsen… yes, the list could be long… have shaped me at various stages. Since 2014, I’ve spent countless hours on YouTube discovering 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 attend concerts often?
Not really, other than just to go to concerts, listen to recordings, and like what you like.
Any upcoming concerts you’d like to recommend?
I must admit I’m not a very diligent concertgoer, so I don’t follow the concert scene closely. I also don’t recommend my own concerts to friends and family, so I have some room for improvement there 😊. We in the Oslo String Quartet will host our annual mini-festival KvarTettPå on March 15 at Majorstuen Church, focusing on two very important women: Nadia Boulanger and Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge. Between them, they either taught or financially supported over 1,200 composers and works during the first part of the 20th century. Much good came of that! We’re calling the festival Børs og katedral ("Stock Exchange and Cathedral").
Finally—who do you challenge to take over the interview baton?
I think I’ll pass the baton to Marianne Thorsen in Trondheim. We played a lot together when we were in the music school, and she’s a musician I greatly admire.
Photo: Andrej Grilc