Aksel Rykkvin


Aksel Johannes Skramstad Rykkvin is a Norwegian singer. He rose to fame as a boy soprano singing baroque arias, and recorded two albums on Signum Records with orchestral accompaniment. Critics have noted his fine vocal tone and instinctive musicality.
After his voice changed he started performing as a baritone.

Biography

Rykkvin began singing in the Oslo Cathedral Boys’ Choir, and continued as a member throughout his soprano career. At age ten he joined the Children's Chorus of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet. As a member of the Oslo Cathedral Boys' Choir, he received vocal training beginning at the age of five from the voice teacher Helene Haarr. Since age ten he has studied voice with Marianne Willumsen Lewis, his current principal teacher.
Rykkvin has achieved a good reputation internationally, both for the album Aksel! and for solo concerts. He was nominated for newcomer of the year at the 2016 Spellemannprisen for Arias By Bach, Händel & Mozart. In January 2017 he was named "The Musician of the Year" during the national part of the Youth Music Championship 2016-2017. In addition to performing in operas he sang with the Oslo Philharmonic orchestra, and has also performed for the Prime Minister and Norwegian royal family.

Recordings

His first album was funded with a Kickstarter campaign, raising nearly $45,000. It was recorded in London in January 2016 with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and conductor Nigel Short.
His second album, Light Divine, features the Norwegian Min Ensemble led by trumpeter Mark Bennett, and baroque music by Handel, Albinoni and Rameau. His voice changed a month after the recording and he then stopped performing as a soprano.
His first two albums both debuted in the Top 10 in the UK Classical Music charts.

Discography