Dan Styffe

Photo: Kimm Saatvedt

Biografi

Dan Styffe, born in Sweden, has had most of his professional career based in Norway. After studies with Göran Nyberg, Knut Guettler and Gary Karr (he also worked as Karr´s assistant in 1981-82) he made his Oslo solo-debut 1985 and after that he has been very active as soloist and chamber musician. He regularly performs in international chamber music festival and as soloist. He also participates in many international double bass conventions around the world like Paris, Berlin, Wroclaw, Penn State, Odense, San Fransisco, Brno, Copenhagen, Iceland and Rochester. He has also been jury member on international bass competitions.

Recordings

Styffe has recorded four critically acclaimed solo CD´s on SIMAX Classics . He recently recorded with violinist Dora Schwarzberg for ContraClassics and a new CD with music by French composer Bernard Salles.

He has commissioned many new pieces and works regularly together with many composers for example Rolf Martinsson, Fredrik Högberg, Teppo Hauta-aho, Bernard Salles, Paul Ramsier, Rune Rebne, Henrik Hellstenius, Jon Øyvind Ness, Gisle Kverndokk, John Persen, Asbjørn Schaatun and Ruben Sverre Gjesrtsen and Marcus Paus is writing for him.

In April 2011 Styffe premiered and recorded on CD Rolf Martinsson´s Concerto No 1 with Oslo Philharmonic/ Saraste and later same year he recorded Fredrik Högberg´s concerto “Hitting the First Bass” with Tromsø Chamber Orchestra, Leader Kolbjørn Holthe (which is now released). Styffe performed the world premiere of this concerto with The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra , Leader Isabelle van Keulen.

Work

After his studies Styffe got the Principal Bass position in The Norwegian Opera Orchestra and later Principal Bass with The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra (under Iona Brown´s leadership). Now he is Co-Principal in The Oslo Philharmonic (under Mariss Jansons, André Previn and Jukka Pekka Saraste and Vasily Petrenko).

Styffe was a member of the chamber ensemble Borealis.

Styffe is working together with many international musicians and the closest partners are so far violist Catherine Bullock, pianists Gonzalo Moreno and Ingrid Andsnes and cellist Øystein Birkeland. Late 2011 he recorded duos with violinist Peter Herresthal.

Dan Styffe plays a Gasparo da Saló double bass made in Brescia, Italia approx. 1580. This instrument is owned by the foundation Dextra Musica, Sparebankstiftelsen DnB NOR.