Aksel

Aksel Kolstad

Pianist, composer and humorist, Norway

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Aksel Kolstad, pianist and composer - had his debut in Carnegie Hall in 2010. Now he is touring much in Asia and Europe.  Aksel Kolstad, a Metier Artist in Residence, born 1981 in Oslo – Norway, completed his bachelor degree under Prof. Sigurd Slåttebrekk at The Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo in 2006. He completed his master degree at the same academy and also with Prof Slåttebrekk, performing George Gershwin´s piano concertos.

He has performed solo recitals globally with appearances in Tallinn, Latvia, Russia, Portugal, France, England, Germany, Italy, USA, Japan, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland Mexico, Australia, Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, and Poland. Also, as a soloist with orchestra, he has appeared in Russia, Poland, Ukraine, and Hungary. He is known for his virtuoso variations on historical music combined with humor / stand up.

Kolstad has performed in most of the biggest chamber music festivals in Norway and has also performed on many occasions in Estonia and Russia, where he has had a lot of TV and radio performances as well. He had his debut concert in Carnegie Hall in October 2010 to a full house and received a standing ovation. Kolstad studied composition with Wolfgang Plagge and has since the age of 17 performed his own virtuoso works for piano solo in many countries all over the world already. He has also conducted many of his orchestral works. The American press has called him “The New Victor Borge", with the Swedish press calling him “The Franz Liszt of our time”. 

Kolstad has initiated his atelier and concert gallery in Oslo called, Café de Concert.  He first started Café de Concert in 2003 and in 2009 he opened the worlds first classical concert café, creating an urban buzz and creative marketing of classical music. The idea being to present classical music to a wider audience in a more relaxed and fun atmosphere instead of the traditional solemn style.