Bo Holten (b. 1948) is Denmark’s most prolific composer of lyric theatre and an internationally renowned conductor. This newly-recorded retrospective includes three of his most cherished concert works: a charismatic concert opera based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Emperor’s New Clothes, a touching song cycle to evocative poetry by Sophus Claussen and an Oboe Concerto inspired by the instrument’s unique lyrical capabilities.

With nine operas in his catalogue, Bo Holten (b. 1948) is the most prolific living composer of lyric theatre in Denmark and among the most prolific the country has ever known. He is a practising musician as well as a writing one, who founded two of his country’s most distinguished independent vocal consorts, spent 16 seasons on the conducting staff of the BBC Singers in London and has conducted all of Denmark’s symphony orchestras, often in his own music.

Holten’s musical foundation stones range from jazz to polyphony, but in his music, he returns to the fundamental beauty of simple musical ingredients – intervals, tunes, common rhythmic and harmonic devices. Holten is one of th emost passionate advocates for tonality of our time.

The Emperor’s New Clothes (2004) was written for the bicentenary of Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen’s birth the following year. The libretto by Eva Sommestad Holten draws on Andersen’s own words.

All works on this album are world-premiere recordings.