Søren Rastogi

Den danske pianist Søren Rastogi har en international karriere som solist, kammermusiker, akkompagnatør og underviser. Hans musikalske virke omfatter både klaverrepertoirets centrale værker og en vedvarende interesse for mindre kendt musik og projekter, der bringer overset repertoire frem på koncertscenen og i indspilningsstudiet.

Som koncertsolist har Rastogi optrådt med de fleste af Danmarks førende symfoniorkestre og samarbejdet med dirigenter som Christian Mandeál, Thomas Søndergård, Douglas Bostock, Christian Kluxen, Benjamin Shwartz, Mathias Aeschbacher, Ed Spanjaard, Jayce Ogren, Maria Badstue, Peter Feranec, Hans Graf og Ilan Volkov. Hans repertoire spænder fra Mozart, Schumann og Rachmaninov til Stravinsky, Bernstein og Gershwin og omfatter en række af Mozarts klaverkoncerter, heriblandt K. 466, K. 491, K. 451 og K. 488.

Efter sin debut med DR SymfoniOrkestret i Stravinskys Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments fremhævede dagbladet Information hans pianistiske overskud, musikalske overblik, melodiske sans, rytmiske sikkerhed og sceniske nærvær.

Som kammermusiker har Rastogi optrådt med kunstnere som Vilde Frang, Andreas Brantelid, Benjamin Schmid, Sergei Dogadin og Narek Hakhnazaryan. Han har været en regelmæssig gæst ved festivaler som Bergen International Festival, Stavanger Chamber Music Festival, Tivoli SommerKlassik og Hardanger Chamber Music Festival.

Han optræder desuden ofte sammen med sin hustru, den danske cellist Janne Fredens. Deres mangeårige kunstneriske samarbejde omfatter både kernerepertoiret og mindre kendte værker for cello og klaver.

Blandt Rastogis indspilninger er Visiting Grieg med den norske baryton Johannes Weisser. Albummet blev anmeldt internationalt, og Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung beskrev fortolkningerne som “mesterlige”, mens Classic FM Magazine kårede udgivelsen til månedens cd.

I 2023 udgav Dacapo den første indspilning af Paul von Klenaus klaverkoncert med Rastogi som solist, Singapore Symphony Orchestra og dirigenten Hans Graf.

I 2024 udgav Rastogi og Janne Fredens Upheaval på OUR Recordings med værker for cello og klaver af Henriette Bosmans, Dora Pejačević, Nadia Boulanger og Lili Boulanger. Indspilningen fik international opmærksomhed og indgår i den bredere genopdagelse af repertoire af kvindelige komponister fra slutningen af det 19. og begyndelsen af det 20. århundrede.

I 2026 følger yderligere to indspilninger. I september udgiver Naxos et album med cellisten Andreas Brantelid med sonater af Ernst von Dohnányi, Samuel Barber og Francis Poulenc. I november udgiver Rastogi og Janne Fredens Resurgence på OUR Recordings med den første komplette indspilning af Leokadiya Kashperovas to cellosonater, op. 1.

Rastogi har et tæt samarbejde med DR Vokalensemblet, hvor han har medvirket som både pianist og musikalsk leder i koncertprojekter, der er blevet præsenteret i radio og tv. Sammen har de udviklet nye koncertformater, som kombinerer vokalt og instrumentalt repertoire.

Som både pianist og dirigent har han opført Mozarts klaverkoncerter med Aarhus Kammerorkester og CPH Mozart Players, blandt andet ved en radiotransmitteret koncert i Den Sorte Diamant i København.

Tidligt i sin karriere blev Rastogi udnævnt til “Tårnmusiker” af Danmarks Radio og Rundetaarn i København. Residency’et omfattede en serie på fem radiotransmitterede koncerter, hvor han optrådte som solist og kammermusiker. Siden har han medvirket i en lang række udsendelser for European Broadcasting Union.

Søren Rastogi studerede på Det Kongelige Danske Musikkonservatorium i København hos Tove Lønskov og Niklas Sivelöv, inden han fortsatte sine studier i Berlin hos Pascal Devoyon, hvor han afsluttede sin uddannelse med højeste udmærkelse.

Blandt hans priser og legater er priser ved Nordic Piano Competition og Mendelssohn-konkurrencen i Berlin, Musikkritikernes Kunstnerpris, Aennchen og Eigil Harbys Legat, Victor Schiølers Mindelegat og Russell Memorial Scholarship.

Rastogi er lektor i klaver ved Det Jyske Musikkonservatorium i Aarhus/Aalborg. Han har givet masterclasses i USA, Kina, Norge, Sverige og Finland og er juryformand ved Aarhus International Piano Competition.

Sammen med Janne Fredens er han kunstnerisk leder af Odsherred Kammermusikfestival, hvor internationale kunstnere optræder side om side med unge danske musikere.

Danish pianist Søren Rastogi has an international career as a soloist, chamber musician, accompanist, and educator. His musical activities encompass the central piano repertoire as well as a continuing interest in lesser-known works and projects that bring neglected repertoire to the concert platform and recording studio.

As a concerto soloist, Rastogi has appeared with most of Denmark’s leading symphony orchestras and has collaborated with conductors including Christian Mandeál, Thomas Søndergård, Douglas Bostock, Christian Kluxen, Benjamin Shwartz, Mathias Aeschbacher, Ed Spanjaard, Jayce Ogren, Maria Badstue, Peter Feranec, Hans Graf, and Ilan Volkov. His repertoire ranges from Mozart, Schumann, and Rachmaninov to Stravinsky, Bernstein, and Gershwin, and includes several of Mozart’s piano concertos, among them K. 466, K. 491, K. 451, and K. 488.

Following his debut with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra in Stravinsky’s Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments, the Danish newspaper Information highlighted his pianistic command, musical overview, melodic sense, rhythmic precision, and stage presence.

As a chamber musician, Rastogi has performed with artists including Vilde Frang, Andreas Brantelid, Benjamin Schmid, Sergei Dogadin, and Narek Hakhnazaryan. He has appeared regularly at festivals including the Bergen International Festival, Stavanger Chamber Music Festival, Tivoli Summer Festival, and Hardanger Chamber Music Festival.

He also performs extensively with his wife, Danish cellist Janne Fredens. Their long-standing artistic partnership encompasses both the standard repertoire and lesser-known works for cello and piano.

Rastogi’s recordings include Visiting Grieg with Norwegian baritone Johannes Weisser. The album was reviewed internationally, with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung describing the performances as “masterly” and Classic FM Magazine selecting it as CD of the Month.

In 2023, Dacapo released the first recording of Paul von Klenau’s Piano Concerto, with Rastogi as soloist, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and conductor Hans Graf.

In 2024, Rastogi and Janne Fredens released Upheaval on OUR Recordings, featuring works for cello and piano by Henriette Bosmans, Dora Pejačević, Nadia Boulanger, and Lili Boulanger. The recording received international attention and contributes to the wider rediscovery of repertoire by women composers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Two further recordings follow in 2026. In September, Naxos will release an album with cellist Andreas Brantelid featuring sonatas by Ernst von Dohnányi, Samuel Barber, and Francis Poulenc. In November, Rastogi and Janne Fredens will release Resurgence on OUR Recordings, featuring the first complete recording of Leokadiya Kashperova’s two cello sonatas, Op. 1.

Rastogi has a close association with the Danish National Vocal Ensemble, working as both pianist and musical director in concert projects presented on radio and television. Together they have developed new concert formats combining vocal and instrumental repertoire.

As pianist and conductor, he has performed Mozart piano concertos with Aarhus Chamber Orchestra and CPH Mozart Players, including a radio-broadcast concert at the Black Diamond in Copenhagen.

Earlier in his career, Rastogi was appointed “Tower Musician” by the Danish Broadcasting Corporation and the Round Tower in Copenhagen. The residency included a series of five radio-broadcast concerts as soloist and chamber musician. He has subsequently taken part in numerous broadcasts for the European Broadcasting Union.

Søren Rastogi studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen with Tove Lønskov and Niklas Sivelöv before continuing his studies in Berlin with Pascal Devoyon, graduating with the highest distinction.

His awards and scholarships include prizes at the Nordic Piano Competition and the Mendelssohn Competition in Berlin, the Danish Music Critics’ Artist Prize, the Aennchen and Eigil Harby Scholarship, the Victor Schiøler Memorial Scholarship, and the Russell Memorial Scholarship.

Rastogi is Associate Professor of Piano at the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus/Aalborg. He has given masterclasses in the United States, China, Norway, Sweden, and Finland and is chairman of the jury of the Aarhus International Piano Competition.

Together with Janne Fredens, he is Artistic Director of the Odsherred Chamber Music Festival, where international artists perform alongside young Danish musicians.