Herman David Koppel
(1er octobre 1908, Copenhague - 14 juillet 1998, Copenhague)

Né de parents juifs polonais (Village de Blaszki) installés au Danemark en 1907, il étudie le piano et la compositions à l'Académie Royale de Musique de Copenhague (1925-1929) dans la classe de Carl Nielsen dont il deviendra l'interprète et l'ami. Il fait ses débuts de pianiste en 1930 et deviendra un grand interprète de Stravinsky et Bartok. Il compose aussi pour le théâtre, le cinéma et la radio. Suite à l'invasion du Danemark par les nazis, sa carrière est interrompue et en 1943 il doit s'échapper avec son épouse et ses 2 jeunes enfants vers la Suède (Orebro) grâce à la résistance danoise et au courage du Roi du Danemark. Il restera en exil jusqu'en 1945. Après la guerre il devient professeur à l'Académie Royale de Musique de Copenhague (1955-1978). Ses 2 fils (Thomas et Anders) sont également compositeurs. Ses filles (Therese et Lone) sont respectivement pianiste et soprano. Il est l'auteur de plus de 200 oeuvres de musique de concert et de scène dans tous les genres.

  Copyright © 2012-2018
Claude Torres
 
     
Retour Biographie Compositions
     
Herman D. Koppel at the age of 11 (1919) The concert pianist Herman D. Koppel, drawn in Sweden in 1943 by another Jewish refugee, the sculptor Harald Isenstein From 1943 until 1945 Herman D. Koppel and his family were refugees in Sweden. The picture is from 1944


The 86-year-old Herman D. Koppel at a rehearsal
with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra/DR in 1995

 

Discographie

Danish Wind Octet

Music for Wind Octet, Op. 123

Dacapo 8.224002

Songs
Peder Severin, tenor

6 Songs to Texts by Paul la Cour Op. 54
Arstiderne (Seasons) Op. 65

Dacapo 8.224010

Moses, Op. 76
Elisabeth Meyer-Topsoe, soprano
Danish National Radio Choir
Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Owain Arwel Hughes, Conductor

Dacapo 8.224046

Orchestral Works Vol. 1
Aalborg Symphony Orchestra
Moshe Atzmon, Conductor

Symphony No. 6, Op. 63, "Sinfonia breve"
Symphony No. 7, Op. 70
Concerto for Orchestra, Op. 101

Dacapo 8.224135

       
Orchestral Works Vol. 2
Aalborg Symphony Orchestra
Moshe Atzmon, Conductor

Symphony No. 1, Op. 5
Symphony No. 2, Op. 37

Dacapo 8.224205

Chamber Music
Nikolaj Bentzon, piano
Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra Wind Quintet

Sextet for Piano and Wind Quintet, Op. 36

Dacapo 8.224208

Arne Balk-Moller, violin
Johannes Soe Hansen, violin
Ida Speyer Gron, viola
Henrik Brendstrup, cello
Christina Bjorkoe, piano

Piano Quintet, Op. 57
9 Variations for Piano Quintet, Op. 80
Piano Quartet, Op. 114

Dacapo 8.226003

Orchestral Works Vol. 3
Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra
Moshe Atzmon, Conductor

Symphony No. 3, Op. 39
Symphony No. 4, Op. 42

Dacapo 8.226016

       
Orchestral Works Vol. 4
Aalborg Symphony Orchestra
Moshe Atzmon, Conductor
Nina Kavtaradze, piano

Prelude to a Sympnony, Op. 105
Symphony No. 5, Op. 60
Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 45

Dacapo 8.226027

Concertos
Rune Most, flute
Michaela Fukacova, cello
Ulrich Staerk, piano
Odense Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra
Paul Mann, Conductor

Flute Concerto, Op. 87
Cello Concerto, Op. 56
Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 30

Dacapo 8.226032

Piano Trios
Jalina Trio

Piano Trio, Op. 88

Dacapo 8.226503

Journey
Kim Sjogren, violin
Lars Hannibal, guitar

Duo for Violin and Guitar, Op. 116

Dacapo 8.226902

       
Conversations
Elisabeth Zeuthen Schneider, violin
Ulrich Staerk, piano

Ternio, Op. 53a (version for violin and piano)

Dacapo / Open Space 8.226519

Oeuvres pour violoncelle & piano
Morten Zeuthen, violoncelle
Amalie Malling, piano
2011

 Ternio,Op.53b
Sonata for cello and piano, op. 62
Suite for Solo Cello, op. 86

Dacapo 8.226088

Works for a cappella choir
Danish National Vocal Ensemble
Søren Kinch Hansen
2010

Three Psalms of David for mixed choir Op. 74
(1962)

1 Herre, din miskundhed rækker til Himlen (Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens)
Psalm of David No. 36

2 Herre, min Gud, jeg råber om dagen
(O Lord God of my salvation)
Psalm of David No. 88

3 Kom, lad os juble for Herren
(O come, let us sing unto the Lord)
Psalm of David No. 95

Dacapo 8.226051

Chamber Music (Wind Quintets)
Ensemble Carion
Marie Holzegel, piccolo

Sonatina for Wind Quintet, Op. 16

Dacapo 8.226107

 

Piano Concerto no. 3, op. 45
Herman D. Koppel, piano
The Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Erik Tuxen, conductor
Recorded Concertgebouw Amsterdam 04.10.1953

Violin and Viola Concerto, op. 43
Else Marie Bruun, violin
Julius Koppel, viola
The Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Mogens Wøldike, conductor
Recorded Copenhagen 10.10.1957

Clarinet Concerto, op. 35
Louis Cahuzac, clarinet
The Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Erik Tuxen, conductor
Recorded Copenhagen 15.11.1948

Vol. 1
Works for Piano and Orchestra
Danacord DACOCD 561-562

Piano Sonata E minor, op. 1, 1928
Variations and Fugue for Piano, op. 3, 1929
Piano Piece, op. 7, 1930
Ten Piano Pieces, op. 20, 1933
Suite for Piano, op. 21, 1934
Sonata no. 1 for Piano, op. 50, 1950
15 Miniatures, op. 97a, 1976

Herman D. Koppel, piano

Vol. 2
Works for Solo Piano
Danacord
DACOCD 563-564

String Quartet No. 2, op. 34
The Koppel Quartet
Recorded DR 18.05.1962

String Quartet No. 3, op. 38
The Koppel Quartet
Recorded DR 15.03.1957

Piano Quintet, op. 57
The Koppel Quartet / Herman D. Koppel, piano
Recorded Copenhagen 1956

Danacord DACOCD 565

Ternio for cello and piano, op. 53b
Erling Blöndal Bengtsson, cello
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Recorded DR 25.09.1971

Sonata for cello and piano, op. 62
Erling Blöndal Bengtsson, cello
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Recorded Copenhagen dec. 1959

Suite for Solo Cello, op. 86
Erling Blöndal Bengtsson, cello
Recorded DR 25.09.1971

Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano, op. 88
Béla Detreköj, violin / René Honnens, cello
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Recorded DR 26.10.1973

Danacord DACOCD 566

Vol.3
Chamber Music

Piano Concerto No. 1, Opus 13
Herman D. Koppel, piano
DR Symphony Orchestra
Aksel Wellejus, conductor
Concert recording Radio House Copenhagen 17.05.1982

Piano Concerto No. 4, Opus 69
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Odense Symphony Orchestra
Aksel Wellejus, conductor
Concert recording Odense City Hall 27.05.1963

Paw (Film music)
South Jutland Symphony Orchestra
Aksel Wellejus, conductor
Recorded South Jutland Hall 22.01.1980

Palle March (Film music)
DR Sinfonietta
Aksel Wellejus, conductor
Radio studio broadcast 17.05.1982

Piano Concerto No. 2, Opus 30 (3e mvt;)
Nikolaj Koppel and Herman D. Koppel, pianos
Concert recording Tivoli Concert Hall 17.07.1994

Danacord DACOCD 569-570

Vol. 5
Piano Concertos

       

Vol. 4
Vocal Music
Five biblical songs for tenor and piano, Opus 46 (1949)
Kurt Westi, tenor
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Recorded by DR 25.2.1976

Four love songs
on the Song of Songs for soprano and piano, Opus 47
(1949)
(Dedicated to Karen and Gunnar Heerup)
Karen Heerup, soprano
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Recorded by Columbia DDX 27 1950

Three Psalms for tenor solo, mixed choir, boys' choir and orchestra, Opus 48 (1949)
Peter Lindroos, tenor
The Danish National Symphony Orchestra
The Danish National Choir
Copenhagen Boys' Choir
John Frandsen, Conductor
Recorded by DR (Danish Broadcasting Corporation) 16.3.1978

Four Old Testament songs for mezzo-soprano and piano, Opus 49 (1949)
(Dedicated to Jolanda Rodio)
Gurli Plesner, mezzo-soprano
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Private recording from radio broadcast 1969

Two Psalms for soprano and piano, Opus 55 (1951)
Lone Koppel, soprano
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Recorded by DR 6.2.1965

Two biblical songs for soprano and piano, Opus 59 (1955)
Lone Koppel, soprano
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Recorded by DR 6.2.1965

Psalm 42 for soprano and piano, Opus 68 (1960)
(Dedicated to Lone)
Lone Koppel, soprano
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Recorded by DR 17.7.1981

Danacord DACOCD 567

Two songs
on poems by Johannes V. Jensen for tenor and piano, Opus 51
(1950)
(Dedicated to Gerd Schiøtz)
Kurt Westi, tenor
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Recorded by DR 6.6.1977

Six songs
on poems by Paul la Cour for soprano and piano, Opus 54
(1951)
Lone Koppel, soprano
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Private recording from radio broadcast 1963

Five songs
on poems by Paul la Cour for soprano and piano, Opus 64
(1957)
(Dedicated to Lone)
Lone Koppel, soprano
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Private recording from radio broadcast 1963

Three songs
on poems by Nelly Sachs, Opus 84
(1971)
(Dedicated to Lone)
Lone Koppel, soprano
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Recorded by DR 17.7.1981

Three songs
on Psalm 142, the Song of Songs and Psalm 100, Opus 96
(1975-76)
(Dedicated to my beloved wife)
Lone Koppel, soprano
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Recorded by DR 17.7.1981

Three songs
on poems by Tom Kristensen and Paul la Cour for soprano and piano, Opus 119
(1989)
(Dedicated to Lone)
Lone Koppel, soprano
Nikolaj Koppel, piano
Recorded by DR live 1990

Three songs
on poems by Verner von Heidenstam, Gustav Fröding and Erik Gustaf Geijer , Opus 121
(1990)
(Dedicated to Björn)
Björn Asker, baryton
Nikolaj Koppel, piano
Recorded by SR (Radio Sweden) 15.6.1991

Danacord DACOCD 568

   
 
Requiem for solo voices, chorus and orchestra
Opus 78 (1965-1966)
Soprano solo / Jephta´s daughter: Lone Koppel
Tenor solo / Narrator: Ticho Parly
Job / Israel / Jephta: Rolf Jupither
Ruben / Joseph: Willy Hartmann
Juda: Mogens Schmidt Johansen
DR Symphony Orchestra
Danish National Radio Choir
, conductor
Concert recording Radio House Copenhagen 17.05.1982

Danacord DACOCD 571

Concertino for Strings No. 1, opus 32
DR Symphony Orchestra
Lamberto Gardelli, conductor
Recorded Copenhagen 1958

Concertino for Strings No. 2, opus 66
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Rudolf Schwartz, conductor
Recorded London 06. 02. 1958

Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra, opus 82
DR Symphony Orchestra
Leif Segerstam, conductor
Jørgen Hammergaard, oboe
Recorded Copenhagen 18. 02. 1971

Chamber Concerto for Violin and Strings, opus 83
DR Symphony Orchestra
John Frandsen, conductor
Milan Vitek, violin
Recorded Copenhagen 22.09.1972

Danacord DACOCD 572

Vol. 6

Requiem
Concertino - Concertos

Willy Hartmann (tenor), Lone Koppel (soprano), Kurt Westi,
Hans Christian Andersen,
Frans Andersson, Mogens Schmidt Johansen, Gurli Plesner,
Vibeke Kristensen, Irene Hasager Johansen (tenor), Thomas Peter Koppel, Christina Bjørkøe (piano), Jonathan Koppel, Allan Sjølin,
Danish National Radio Choir,
DR Symphony Orchestra, Miltiades Caridis

Danacord DACOCD 573-574

Vol. 7

  • Moses, Op. 76 (Willy Hartmann / Mogens Schmidt Johansen / Frans Andersson, Lone Koppel / Gurli Plesner / DR Symphony Orchestra, Danish National Radio Choir / Miltiades Caridis)
  • Two Songs, Op. 75 (Vibeke Kristensen featuring Irene Hasager Johansen, Vibeke Kristensen)
  • Two Songs, Op. 108 (Thomas Peter Koppel featuring Irene Hasager Johansen, Thomas Peter Koppel, Irene Hasager Johansen)
  • Gammel dans (Christina Bjørkøe)
  • Årstiderne, Op. 65 (Jonathan Koppel, Irene Hasager Johansen)
  • 50 Short Pieces for the Piano, Op. 99 (Christina Bjørkøe)
  • Solhvervssang (Jonathan Koppel, Irene Hasager Johansen, Allan Sjølin)
  • Valmuevejen (Thomas Peter Koppel, Allan Sjølin)
  • Ditte Menneskebarn (Vibeke Kristensen, Allan Sjølin)
  • Melodien der blev væk (Thomas Peter Koppel, Allan Sjølin)
  • Lille Digter Skrøne (Thomas Peter Koppel, Lone Koppel)
  • Aftensang (Vibeke Kristensen, Irene Hasager Johansen)
The Danish Radio Recordings, Vol. 2

Danacord DACOCD 845

Erling Blöndal Bengtsson (cello)
Endre Wolf, Violin
Jennifer Nuttall, Viola

Divertimento for string trio, Op. 91
 

 

Cello Concerto, Op. 56
Erling Blondal Bengtsson,  cello
Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Ole Schmidt, conductor
rec. August 19th, 1976
Danish Radio Concert Hall
Suite for piano, Op 21
Herman D. Koppel, Piano

Ternio for cello & piano, Op 53b
Herman D. Koppel, Piano
Steven Thomas, Cello

Quartet for piano & strings, Op 114
Cantilena Piano Quartet

Cantilena for violin & cello, Op 117
Edna Michell, violin
Steven Thomas, cello

Point Records 5082
Jun 11, 1988-Jun 12, 1988
The Danish Radio Concert Hall, Copenhagen

Five biblical songs for tenor and piano,
Opus 46
(1949)
Ole Hedegaard, tenor
Erik Kaltoft, piano
Contemporary Danish Songs
Paula 32 (LP, stereo, 1984, Swiss pressing)
Contemporary Danish Music for Orchestra, Volume 1
BIS LP-78
 (Stereo)
Contemporary Danish Music for Orchestra, Volume 2
BIS CD-080
       
 Sextet, Op. 36 (1942)
The Jutland Ensemble
(fl,ob,cl,horn,bsn,pno)
Paula PACD 77

Recorded 1992
Skive Seminarium, Denmark
Variazioni Libère
for 2 clarinets, bass clarinet & percussion, Op. 98
(1976)
John Kruse, Clarinet
Rene Hojlund, Clarinet
Kenneth Larsen, Bass Clarinet
Søren Monrad, Percussion

Variations for clarinet & piano, Op. 72 (1961)
John Kruse, Clarinet
Per Salo, Piano

Contemporary Danish Works for Clarinet
Paula PACD78

1996
Det Fynske Musikkonservatorium

Piano Quintet, op. 57
LP HMV KALP 13
 
(Mono, UK pressing, red gold label)
 Koppel, piano
 Koppel String Quartet
Else Marie Bruun, violin
Andreas Thyregod, violin
Julius Koppel, viola
Jarl Hansen, cello
Recorded Copenhagen 1956
Sonata for cello and piano, op. 62
LP Music at Louisiana LRLP 3003
(mono, 1960)
Erling Blöndal Bengtsson, cello
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Recorded Copenhagen dec. 1959

 

Dansk Musik Antologi
Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 45, 1948
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Vaclav Neumann, conductor
Oboe Concerto, Op. 82, 1970
Jørgen Hammergaard, oboe
Danish R.S.O.
Leif Segerstam, conductor
LP Philips DMA 039
Introduction, Theme with Variations and an Epilogue for Cello, Op. 85
Gert von Bülow, cello
LP EMI DMA 045
Piano Quintet, Op. 57, 1953
Suite for Piano, Op. 21, 1934
15 Miniatures for Piano, Op. 97a, 1976
Herman D. Koppel, piano
Danish Quartet
LP EMI DMA 059
Variations on a Jewish Folk Dance for viola, alto and cello, Op. 17, 1932
Københavns Kammertrio
Copenhagen Chamber Trio
(Kim Sjøgren; Bjarne Boie Rasmussen;
Lars Holm Johansen)
LP Philips DMA 074 (Label DGG)
(1983)

 

Herman D. Koppel: 100 Years
A Celebration of a Danish Music Icon
Cowbell Music CBM053 (CD / DVD)
Concert tribute to celebrate pianist and composer Herman D Koppel, organised by his grandson, the musician Benjamin Koppel.
Recorded live in the Queen’s Hall, the Royal Library/the Black Diamond, Copenhagen, Denmark on 4 October 2008.

Benjamin Koppel (saxophones), Anders Koppel (hammond organ), Michala Petri (recorder), Svend Asmussen (violin), Alex Riel (drums),
Marilyn Mazur (percussion), Gitta Maria Sjöberg (voice), Mo Hong Ling (voice), Marie Carmen Koppel (voice),
Jacob Anderskov (piano/fender rhodes), Johannes Søe Hansen (violin), Ida Speyer Grøn (viola), Henrik Dam Thomsen (cello),
Christina Bjørkøe (piano), Allan Rasmussen (cembalo), Tine Rehling (harp), Lydia Kavina (theremin), Nikolaj Høi (saw),
Thommy Andersson (double bass), Mames Babegenush (klezmer leader)