Winner of the 2024 Nordic Council Music Prize

Danish composer Rune Glerup (born in 1981) has won the 2024 Nordic Council Music Prize for the violin concerto "Om Lys og Lethed" (2024). The concerto was commissioned by the DR Symphony Orchestra and was written for and in close dialogue with the violinist Isabelle Faust. The work marks a high point in Glerup’s long and remarkable career. His compositions have always been uncompromising, tightly structured, and clear. In "Om Lys og Lethed" he conjures an unmistakable vulnerability, which enters into a beautiful balance with his more objective, sculptural, and crystal-clear soundscapes. 
 

The music in the concerto is almost architectural, while also deeply intense, made possible by his virtuoso instrumentation and his fine timing. To achieve this effect, Glerup has worked with static elements to create entire sections that remain constant and do not gradually transform into something else. Although the sound is complex, it is also minimalistic, creating a sense of calm even when the level of activity is at its highest. This effortless combination of disparate worlds crystallises into an impressive work that draws the listener in and makes it impossible not to be influenced.
 

The work was created after a period in which Glerup experienced a mental block, which he was open about. The result is this direct and inviting work that comes straight from the heart. It is tight and finely composed, but with an undeniable human touch.