Albert Schnelzer (b. 1972) is one of the most noted Scandinavian composers. His music is outgoing and openly communicative, sometimes minimalistic, often rhythmically dancing but with meditative and beautiful elements. He studied composition at the Academy of Music in Malmö and at master's level at the Royal College of Music in London, and had an international breakthrough in 2004 when his piano trioPredatory Dancespremiered at the Présence Festival in Paris. His repertoire includes orchestral works, solo concerts, an opera and a wide range of chamber music.
Albert Schnelzer has had great success with his orchestral music, which has been performed by around 70 orchestras around the world. The concert openerA Freak in Burbank(2008) has been played on major stages such as the Royal Albert Hall (BBC Proms 2010), the Berliner Philharmonie and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. The oboe concertoThe Enchanterwas written for the virtuoso Francois Leleux. The BBC Symphony Orchestra and Sweden's Radio Symphony Orchestra ordered jointlyTales from Suburbia(2012). In 2019, two new solo concerts were premiered: the piano concertoThis is Your Kingdomcomposed for Conrad Tao and the Violin ConcertoNocturnal Songsfor Ilya Gringolts. Written for Clara Schumann's 200th anniversary in 2019Burn My Letters – Remembering Clara, an international joint commission between the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, RTE Symphony Orchestra Dublin, Gävle Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonia Lahti. Alte Opera Frankfurt commissioned the pieceThrough the Eye of the Pegasusfor its 40th anniversary in 2021.
In April 2017, Schnelzer was dedicated to Stockholm's Konserthus Tonsättarweekend where 15 of his works were performed by the Royal Philharmonic with soloists and chamber musicians. His first opera, Norrmalmstorgsdramat, was staged in Vattnäs Concert Hall in 2018 and was warmly received by both audience and critics. For Gothenburg's 400th anniversary, Schnelzer composed the oratorio SALT, which was awarded the Music Publishers' Prize 2023.
"The oratorio Salt is about the sea, traveling and migration. Here, Albert Schnelzer depicts contemporary issues with an accessible and timeless tone, and this almost self-evident music has all the conditions to become a real modern classic," wrote the jury in its justification.
Schnelzer is also an acclaimed chamber music composer. One of his most performed works is the piano pieceDance with the Devil.He has also composed for the Brodsky Quartet(String Quartet No. 2 – Emperor Akbar), Dame Evelyn Glennie (Apollonian Dances) and for the celebration of King Carl XVI Gustaf's 70th birthday (Aqua Songs – Piano Quintet). His music is available on several CDs on BIS Records and Daphne.
