Artist Led, Creatively Driven
Concertos & Movements
Bjarke Mogensen, accordion
Release Date: September 12th 2025
ORC100393
Concertos & Movements
Ihor Shamo (1925-1982)
Concerto for Accordion and String Orchestra
1. I Preludia
2. II Fuga
3. III Aria
4. IV Toccata
Anders Koppel (b.1947)
Two movements from Accordion Concerto No.2
5. Cadenza
6. Allegro con brio
Arranged for solo accordion and ensemble
by Bjarke Mogensen
Ole Schmidt (1928-2010)
7. Concerto No.2 for Accordion and Orchestra
Bjarke Mogensen, accordion
with
Aarhus Kammerorkester & Magnus Plejdrup, conductor (Tracks 1-4)
The Danish Chamber Players (Track 6)
Players from the Royal Danish Academy of Music (Track 7)
Expanding the Horizons of the Classical Accordion
This album traces a personal musical journey across borders, generations, and sound worlds—an artistic exploration inspired by the expressive depth of the modern accordion in dialogue with various chamber orchestra formations. Featuring works by Ihor Shamo (1925-1982), Ole Schmidt (1928-2010), and Anders Koppel (b.1947), the programme presents three distinct compositional voices united by a shared spirit of curiosity and innovation that allows tradition and experimentation to coexist.
At the heart of the album lies Ihor Shamo’s Concerto for Accordion and String Orchestra (1981), dedicated to Ukrainian accordionist Wladimir Besfamilnow. In this work, Shamo treats the accordion almost like an organ, particularly in the opening Preludio and Fuga, where sustained chorales and contrapuntal textures evoke cathedral-like sonorities. The opening music gives way to a lyrical Aria and a concluding whirlwind Toccata. This rarely heard Ukrainian masterpiece combines classical architectural clarity and folkloristic vitality, offering the listener a passage into the Nordic landscapes conjured up by the two Danish composers.
The album features world-premiere recordings of two movements from Anders Koppel’s Concerto No.2 (2018), a work dedicated to Bjarke Mogensen.
The first is Cadenza, arranged for solo accordion, and it offers an introspective and virtuosic interlude. Stripped of its orchestral accompaniment, this solo music distills the expressive and technical essence of the Concerto into a concentrated, personal statement that showcases the full emotional range of the instrument.
Allegro con brio, the Concerto’s exuberant final movement, is played here in an arrangement for accordion and chamber ensemble. This version hightlights the rhythmic drive and genre-blending vitality that define Koppel’s musical language. Between them, Cadenza and Allegro con brio offer contrasting facets of the same larger work (one introspective and searching, the other dynamic and celebratory), and at the same time they reaffirm the accordion’s versatility as a solo voice and as an integrated member of a musical collective.
Ole Schmidt’s Concerto No.2 (1963) is heard here in its world-premiere recording; it was written for and dedicated to the pioneering Danish accordionist Mogens Ellegaard. A composer fluent in classical and jazz idioms, Schmidt here crafted a concerto characterized by sweeping cinematic gestures and rhythmic urgency—remarkably ahead of its time, it predates the broader acceptance of the accordion in the classical concert hall. Schmidt writes about the work:
“After the positive reception of my Fantasia and Allegro for accordion and chamber orchestra, I decided to compose a “real” concerto. The instrumentation was to be wind-based, in view of the fact that the accordion is after all also a “wind instrument”; and it was to have percussion and piano. And, as Mogens Ellegaard put it, “No reason why it shouldn’t be “difficult”!” I didn’t need any further prompting. At any rate, I can guarantee that the concerto is technically very difficult; but I can also promise that it isn’t difficult for the sake of being difficult. It has clear musical qualities that emerge by themselves – once you’ve overcome the technical challenges.”
Across the album, Bjarke Mogensen collaborates with three Danish ensembles: the Aarhus Chamber Orchestra under Magnus Plejdrup; The Danish Chamber Players (Ensemble Storstrøm) and members of the Orchestra of the Royal Danish Academy of Music. Each ensemble brings its unique colour and character, enriching their fine interpretations with depth and nuance.
The music presented on this album confirms the fully developed free-bass button accordion, the bayan, as a powerful medium for musical storytelling. With its voice-like phrasing, organ-like resonance, and chameleon-like versatility, the modern accordion offers to composers, players and listeners alike a welcome and inspiring musical bridge between folk and classical, East and West, past and future.
Bjarke Mogensen
Accordion
Born and raised on the Danish island of Bornholm, Bjarke Mogensen is an acclaimed accordionist renowned for his virtuosity and innovative approach to his instrument, the fully developed free-bass button accordion, the bayan. He began playing the accordion at age seven and made his solo debut at 13 with the Munich Symphony Orchestra in a televised performance that reached millions. Mogensen studied under Geir Draugsvoll and James Crabb at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, graduating from the soloist class in 2012. He now serves as an associate professor at the same institution, teaching accordion and chamber music.
Mogensen’s career is marked by a commitment to expanding the accordion’s repertoire and presence in classical music. He has inspired over 70 new works for the accordion, collaborating with composers such as Per Nørgård, Poul Ruders, Bent Sørensen, and Anders Koppel. His performances have graced prestigious venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw, and the Barbican Centre.
In 2024, Mogensen was honored as “Årets P2 Kunstner” (P2 Artist of the Year) by Denmark’s national classical music radio channel, recognizing his artistic excellence and contributions to the music scene.
Among his recent projects is the innovative DSCH concert-theatre production with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, directed by Mikkel Harder Munck-Hansen. This multimedia performance explores the life and music of Dmitri Shostakovich, featuring arrangements by Øystein Sonstad and integrating choreography, visual arts, and theatrical elements. Mogensen’s accordion playing adds a unique dimension to the ensemble’s interpretation of Shostakovich’s works.
A distinctive aspect of Mogensen’s artistry is his recent exploration of the possibilities offered by a custom-built quarter-tone accordion, one of the few of its kind worldwide. This instrument, crafted in Italy, allows him to explore microtonal music, expanding the expressive capabilities of the accordion. He has commissioned and premiered works specifically for this instrument, including Sune Kølster’s Concerto for Quartertone Accordion and Orchestra, which was world premiered with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra.
Moving backwards from today’s new music to the mid-18th century we find Domenico Scarlatti and his more than 550 small sonatas for a keyboard instrument: Mogensen has made them an important part of his repertoire and has released an acclaimed album with a selection of them.
Mogensen has received numerous awards and recognitions throughout his career. Notably, he won the European Broadcasting Union’s “New Talent” competition in 2012, becoming the first accordionist to do so. He also secured first prizes in the Danish Radio P2’s Chamber Music Competition in 2011 and the Almere International Chamber Music Competition in 2012 with his duo MYTHOS. Additional accolades include The Danish Reviewers’ Artist Prize, the Carl Nielsen Prize, the Victor Borge Music Prize, and the Jacob Gade Grant. Bjarke Mogensen has even been awarded honorary prizes from the Danish royal family, including “The Queen Ingrid Award” and “The Crown Prince Couple’s Stardust Award”.
Beyond his solo career, Mogensen is an active chamber musician. Together with composer Christos Farmakis he established the quartet KOTTOS, blending classical virtuosity with innovative arrangements, touring internationally, and releasing award-winning recordings. His most recent album (April 2025) Winter Steps and Summer Skies is a duo with Toke Møldrup and features new Danish music for accordion and cello.
For more information on Bjarke Mogensen’s work and upcoming performances, visit his official website: www.bjarkemogensen.dk
Magnus Plejdrup
Conductor
Magnus Plejdrup (b.1995) is a Danish conductor and composer and the artistic director of Aarhus Kammerorkester which he founded in 2018. He is passionate about promoting new and unknown music to broad audiences and has commissioned and premiered works by composers such as Britta Byström, Niels Rønsholdt, Louise Alenius and Matthew Grouse. Plejdrup has collaborated with
many prominent soloists including Bjarke Mogensen (accordion), Michael Germer (violin), Jonathan Swensen (cello), Anastasiia Lisitsyna (harp), David Munk-Nielsen (piano) and Mathias Heise (harmonica). Plejdrup was a recipient of the Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen Foundation’s Talent Prize 2023 and the Léonie Sonning Talent Prize 2022; in 2021 he won the audience award at The Danish Sinfonietta’s 75-year anniversary composition contest with the piece ‘Randers’. He trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (UK) and the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus (DK) between 2018 and 2023.
Aarhus Kammerorkester
Aarhus Kammerorkester is a young and dynamic ensemble based in Denmark’s vibrant second largest city. Comprised of some of Aarhus’s most talented professional musicians aged 18–40, the orchestra focuses on repertoire from the classical canon, the 20th century, and contemporary composers. With a mission to engage new – and especially young – audiences and enrich the city’s cultural life, the orchestra acts as a vital complement to larger symphonic institutions. Known for its artistic curiosity and collaborative spirit, Aarhus Kammerorkester is steadily evolving and exploring new ways of bringing chamber music to life for modern listeners. Its work reflects a commitment to both musical excellence and development, as well as meaningful community engagement.
www.aarhuskammerorkester.dk
The Danish Chamber Players
The Danish Chamber Players, which is based in the modern Art and Music House KUMUS at Fuglsang, is one of five national ensembles that ensure a live and active musical environment with experiences of the highest quality in its contributing municipalities and in Kulturregion Storstrøm.
The ensemble was founded in 1991 and consists of 8 high-profile chamber musicians in one unique instrumentation: 3 strings, 3 winds, piano and harp. With first-class classical concerts and a pedagogical effort, the ensemble creates unique musical experiences. They range from co-creation with children and creative projects with other cultural actors, to concerts with the greatest classical works and well-known guest soloists.
Each year the Ensemble performs between 90-100 concerts and events. Two annual festivals, which the ensemble hosts, are the season’s artistic flagships. New concert rooms and formats help to convey the music to a diverse audience.
More than 110 new works have been commissioned by the ensemble from prominent composers, helping to renew and update the classical repertoire with a special focus on Danish music.
Over 30 CD recordings, numerous radio transmissions in DR P2 and continuous digital visibility place the Danish Chamber Players as a significant cultural institution in the Danish music scene.
With an emphasis on international collaboration, the Danish Chamber Players function as an important cultural ambassador for Danish chamber music and its region nationally and internationally.
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