Bo Holten
Upon completing his studies in musicology at the University of Copenhagen and bassoon at the Royal Academy of Music, Bo Holten (b. 1948) established his reputation as a conductor of early music vocal groups, first with Ars Nova which he formed in 1979 and later with Musica Ficta formed in 1996.
Holten has an international reputation as a leading specialist in early music and vocal polyphony. Musica Ficta have proved to be a dominant force in Danish musical life and one of the finest vocal ensembles in Europe, having given over 750 concerts and theatre performances and released multiple recordings.
He has been a guest conductor with a wide range of orchestras, ensembles and choirs in Scandinavia and abroad, and after 16 years as guest conductor of the BBC Singers, he was appointed chief conductor of the Flemish Radio Choir in 2007.
Bo Holten has composed over 140 works including four symphonies, five solo concertos, six works for chorus and orchestra, ten operas, and two musicals. He has also written works for chamber ensembles, song cycles, and scores for films and television series. Among his most widely performed works are the 42 a cappella works which span his composing career. In autumn 2014, Bo Holten staged his second Gesualdo opera Gesualdo – Shadows, and in 2018 he completed his grand opera on Martin Luther, Schlagt sie tot!
