Peter Herresthal

Photo: Mats Bäcker

Web

peterherresthal.com

Bio/CV

Award winning and Grammy nominated violinist Peter Herresthal has appeared with orchestras and ensembles world wide from Melbourne Symphony, with Thomas Adès conducting his Concerto at the Melbourne festival, Vienna Radio Symphony in Konzerthaus Wien, BBC Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony, London Sinfonietta to numerous performances with the major Scandinavian Orchestras including Oslo and Stockholm Phil.

He has recorded 22 violin concertos earning ten nominations and five Norwegian «spellemannsprisen».

His Nørgård recording was shortlisted for a Gramophone Award and was Editors Choice in The Strad and International Record Review.

The last seasons Peter has been touring Europe and US with Kaija Saariahos aria “Vers toi es si loin” written for him and more than 30 performances of her violin concerto "Graal Theatre", most recently recording the work for BIS with glowing reviews in BBC and Grammophone Magazines, a TV production for BBC and nominations for a US Grammy Award.
Saariaho and Aleksi Barrière wrote a version for Peter with actor, video and text; «Graal Theatre (not a Knight) that premiered at the Bergen festival and Oslo philharmonic,followed by performances in Norway, Finland and France .

His latest recording of Missy Mazzolis violinconcerto was nominated for two Grammy Awards in Los Angeles 2024 and BBC Classical Music Awards.

Peter has collaborated closely with composers like Harry Birtwistle and Henry Duttileux on their concertos .Many international and Nordic composers has written for Peter including Thomas Adés, Kaija Saariaho, Per Nørgård, Missy Mazzoli, Arne Nordheim, Olav Anton Thommessen, Gisle Kverndokk, Henrik Hellstenius, Jon Øyvind Ness, Nils Henrik Asheim, Rolf Wallin and Ørjan Matre.

In 2023 he retired from performing and is focusing on his teaching.

Peter Herresthal is Professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music and the Royal Academy of Music Copenhagen, visiting Professor at the Royal College of Music London, Ingesund College and NYU Steinhard School New York.

Recent masterclass and teaching visits include Manhattan School, Chicago institute, USC Thornton School in LA, spring 2018 visiting artist and professor at Oberlin Conservatory further masterclasses in Rome, London, Barcelona , Wien (MUk) Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

He has previously held the position of Professor at Edsberg Manor and at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm (2002-2008) and was in 2018 elected foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy.

Peter was curator at the Bergen festival 2008-2020, artistic head of Voksenåsen Music Academies since 20 years, leader of the Dextra Musica comity for instruments until he left in 2021 to be artistic head of the Anders Sveaas trusts instrument collection.