CRISTOFFER SUNDQVIST
Photo: Patrik Stenström
BIOGRAPHY
“Christoffer Sundqvist has risen on the top-league of Finnish instrumentalists. Smooth musicianship, rhythmic elasticity, the sound spectrum that reaches the extreme and sure sense of style have always fascinated, whether it be orchestral solos, chamber music or solo performances.” Helsingin Sanomat 3.9.2011
Christoffer Sundqvist is one of the leading clarinets of his generation. Alongside his outstanding performances of the classical repertoire, the Finn man is an ambassador for contemporary Nordic music. Composers as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Aulis Sallinen, Sebastian Fagerlund, Olli Kortekangas and Jukka Linkola have all written concertos for Christoffer Sundqvist.
Sundqvist has appeared as soloist with all major Finnish orchestras. BBC Symphony, Gothenburg Symphony, Elbphilharmonie, Norrköping Symphony, Estonian National Symphony, Luzerner Sinfonieorchester and Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie under conductors as Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Klaus Mäkelä, Sakari Oramo, Karl-Heiz Steffens and John Storgårds.
2022 debutes include the Nielsen concerto with Rotterdam symphony orchestra and chamber music concerts in Elbphilharmonie and Wigmore.
As an active chamber musician he has performed at venues like Kuhmo chamber music,West-Cork chambermusic, Delft, Concertgebouw, Wigmore hall, Vinterfest and Helsinki festival.
Sundqvist’s discography includes recordings of the clarinet concertos by Sebastian Fagerlund (Göteborg Symphony), Aulis Sallinen, Peter Eötvös, Carl Nielsen (Finnish Radio Symphony) for BIS and Alba Records, which have claimed international recognition and were both awarded the EMMA prize. Ondine Records made the recording of Erkki-Sven Tüür’s clarinet concerto and the double concerto for violin and clarinet with Pekka Kuusisto and the Finnish Radio Symphony. Cpo Records has released the four clarinet concertos by Louis Spohr with the NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover.
Winner of the Crusell Clarinet competition 2002, Christopher Sundqvist is principal clarinet of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra since 2005. He is lecturer in clarinet at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.
Christoffer Sundqvist was born in Stockholm, moved to Finland at the age of 6 and began his clarinet studies at the Jakobstad Conservatory with Bernhard Nylund. He completed his diploma examination at the Sibelius Academy with Anna-Maija Korsima and continued his studies at the Basel Music Academy with François Benda. Other important teachers include Hans Rudolf Stalder, Guy Deplus and Charles Neidich and a number of distinguished chamber music musicians.