Truls Olaf Otterbech Mørk (born 25 April 1961) is a Norwegian cellist.

Biography

Mørk was born in Bergen, Norway to a cellist father, John Fritjof Mørk, and a pianist mother, Turid Otterbech. His mother began teaching him the piano when he was seven. Mørk also played the

violin The violin, sometimes referred to as a fiddle, is a wooden chordophone, and is the smallest, and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in regular use in the violin family. Smaller violin-type instruments exist, including the violino picc ...

, but soon switched to the cello, taking lessons from his father. Mørk began his studies with Frans Helmerson at 17 at Edsberg Music Institute. An admirer of

Mstislav Rostropovich Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich (27 March 192727 April 2007) was a Russian Cello, cellist and conducting, conductor. In addition to his interpretations and technique, he was well known for both inspiring and commissioning new works, which enl ...

and the Russian school of cello, Mørk went on to study with the Russian cellist Natalia Shakhovskaya. In 1982, Mørk became the first Scandinavian musician to reach the finals of the

Tchaikovsky Competition The International Tchaikovsky Competition is a classical music competition held every four years in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Russia, for pianists, violinists, and cellists between 16 and 32 years of age and singers between 19 and 32 years of ...

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

since Arto Noras in 1966, and won the sixth prize. He subsequently went on to win second prize at the 1986 Naumburg Competition in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

and, in 1986, the Cassado Cello Competition in

Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...

. In 1989, he embarked on his first major concert tour, soloing with many of the finest orchestras of Europe. In 1994, he toured the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

with the Oslo Philharmonic, including debuts at

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhattan), 57t ...

and the

Kennedy Center The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, commonly known as the Kennedy Center, is the national cultural center of the United States, located on the eastern bank of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Opened on September 8, ...

. Mørk's discography includes an award-winning recordings of the Shostakovich Cello Concertos and of Bach's Suites for Solo Cello. He has recorded for such labels as Virgin Classics and harmonia mundi. Mørk's interest in

chamber music Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of Musical instrument, instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a Great chamber, palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music ...

led to the foundation of the International Chamber Music Festival of

Stavanger Stavanger, officially the Stavanger Municipality, is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Norway. It is the third largest city and third largest metropolitan area in Norway (through conurbation with neighboring Sandnes) and the ...

. In April 2009, Mørk experienced an infection of the

central nervous system The central nervous system (CNS) is the part of the nervous system consisting primarily of the brain, spinal cord and retina. The CNS is so named because the brain integrates the received information and coordinates and influences the activity o ...

, presumably caused by a tick bite he received in the United States in 2006, with subsequent

encephalitis Encephalitis is inflammation of the Human brain, brain. The severity can be variable with symptoms including reduction or alteration in consciousness, aphasia, headache, fever, confusion, a stiff neck, and vomiting. Complications may include se ...

, and

paralysis Paralysis (: paralyses; also known as plegia) is a loss of Motor skill, motor function in one or more Skeletal muscle, muscles. Paralysis can also be accompanied by a loss of feeling (sensory loss) in the affected area if there is sensory d ...

in the shoulder muscles of the left arm. In the autumn of 2009, he expressed concern that he might never be able to perform again. After 18 months away from concert activity, during which time he was awarded the 2010 Sibelius Prize, Mørk resumed his career. Mørk holds a Professorship at the Norwegian Academy of Music, Oslo. For more than 30 years, he performed on a rare '' Domenico Montagnana'' cello (

Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...

, 1723), whose scroll was made by

Stradivarius A Stradivarius is one of the string instruments, such as violins, violas, cellos, and guitars, crafted by members of the Stradivari family, particularly Antonio Stradivari (Latin: Antonius Stradivarius), in Cremona, Italy, during the late 17th ...

. Norway's SR-Bank purchased the cello, and loaned it to him. The instrument was recently bought by the Dkfm. Angelika Prokopp Privatstiftung, which now loans it to cellist Harriet Krijgh.

Honors

1991 It was the final year of the Cold War, which had begun in 1947. During the year, the Soviet Union Dissolution of the Soviet Union, collapsed, leaving Post-soviet states, fifteen sovereign republics and the Commonwealth of Independent State ...

: Spellemannprisen in the category Chamber music, together with Håkon Austbø for the album ''Verker av Franck, Chausson, Debussy, Poulenc'' *

1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...

: Spellemannprisen in the category Orchestral music for the album ''Joseph Haydn: Cello concerts'', with Det Norske Kammerorkester cond Iona Brown *

1993 The United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly of the United Nations designated 1993 as: * International Year for the World's Indigenous People The year 1993 in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands had only 364 days, since its ...

: Spellemannprisen in the category Orchestral music for the album ''Dvorák; Cello-konsert/Tsjaikovskij: Rokokko-variasjoner'', with Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra cond.

Mariss Jansons Mariss Ivars Georgs Jansons (14 January 1943 – 1 December 2019) was a Latvian Conducting, conductor, best known for his interpretations of Gustav Mahler, Mahler, Richard Strauss, Strauss, and Russian composers such as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, ...

1995 1995 was designated as: * United Nations Year for Tolerance * World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War This was the first year that the Internet was entirely privatized, with the United States government ...

: Spellemannprisen in the category Orchestral music for the album ''Sjostakovitsj: Cello Concerts'', with

London Philharmonic Orchestra The London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) is a British orchestra based in London. One of five permanent symphony orchestras in London, the LPO was founded by the conductors Thomas Beecham, Sir Thomas Beecham and Malcolm Sargent in 1932 as a riv ...

cond.

1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...

: Spellemannprisen in the category Classical music, for the album ''Elgar: Cello Concert and Britten: Cello Symphony''

Discography (in selection)

Soloist

1987 Events January * January 1 – Bolivia reintroduces the Boliviano currency. * January 2 – Chadian–Libyan conflict – Battle of Fada: The Military of Chad, Chadian army destroys a Libyan armoured brigade. * January 3 – Afghan leader ...

: ''Truls Otterbech Mørk, Arne Nordheim, George Crumb, Ingvar Lidholm, Zoltan Kodaly'' ( Simax Classics) *

: ''Joseph Haydn:Cello Concertos'' (Simax Classics), with The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra cond. Iona Brown *

: ''Dvořák: Cello Concerto'' ( Virgin Classics), with Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra cond.

1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...

: ''Grieg Cello Sonata / Sibelius Malingonia'' (Virgin Classics), with Jean-Yves Thibaudet *

: ''Dmitri Shostakovich:Cello Concertos 1 & 2'' (Virgin Classics), with The London Philharmonic Orchestra cond.

* 1996: ''Rachmaninov, Miaskovsky: Cello Sonatas'' (Virgin Classics), with Jean-Yves Thibaudet *

: ''Elgar, Britten: Cello Concerto / Cello Symphony'' (Virgin Classics), with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra cond. Sir Simon Rattle *

2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...

: ''Benjamin Britten: Cellos Suites 1-3'' (Virgin Classics) *

: ''Harald Sæverud: Cello Concerto • Symphony No. 8, "Minnesota"'' ( BIS Records), with Stavanger Symphony Orchestra cond. Ole Kristian Ruud *

2001 The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...

: ''Aaron Jay Kernis: Colored Field / Musica Celestis / Air'' ( Virgin Classics), with Minnesota Orchestra cond. Eiji Oue * 2002: ''Grieg: Cello Sonata / String Quartet'' (Edvard Grieg Museum, Virgin Classics) * 2002: ''Henri Dutilleux: Tout Un Monde Lointain... / L'Arbre Des Songes / 3 Strophes Sur Le Nom De Sacher'' (Virgin Classics), with Renaud Capuçon and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France cond. Myung-Whun Chung *

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

: ''Arvo Pärt: Pro & Contra'' (Virgin Classics), with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra cond. Paavo Järvi *

2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...

: ''Johann Sebastian Bach: Cello Suites'' (Virgin Classics) * 2006: ''Reflection'' (

Deutsche Grammophon Deutsche Grammophon (; DGG) is a German classical music record label that was the precursor of the corporation PolyGram. Headquartered in Berlin Friedrichshain, it is now part of Universal Music Group (UMG) since its merger with the UMG family of ...

), with Hélène Grimaud, Anne Sofie Von Otter and Staatskapelle Dresden cond.

Esa-Pekka Salonen Esa-Pekka Salonen (; born 30 June 1958) is a Finnish conducting, conductor and composer. He is the music director of the San Francisco Symphony and conductor laureate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra in London and the Sw ...

2007 2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year. Events January * January 1 **Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...

: ''Matthias Pintscher: En Sourdine'' (Kairos Records), with Frank Peter Zimmermann, Christophe Desjardins, Ensemble Intercontemporain, NDR Sinfonieorchester, Matthias Pintscher *

: ''Vadim Repin, Brahms: Violin Concerto - Double Concerto'' (Deutsche Grammophon), with Vadim Repin and the Gewandhausorchester cond. Riccardo Chailly *

2009 2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first known astronomical studies with a telescope and the publication of Astronomia Nova by Joha ...

: ''Haflidi Hallgrímsson: Cello Concerto / Herma'' (

Ondine Records Ondine is a Finnish classical record label founded in 1985 in Helsinki, Finland. Its catalogue with several award-winning releases includes over 600 titles with major Finnish and international artists. Ondine's roster of artists and ensembles i ...

), with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra cond. John Storgårds *

2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...

: ''Einojuhani Rautavaara: Modificata / Incantations (Percussion Concerto) / Towards The Horizon (Cello Concerto No. 2)'' (Ondine Classics), with Colin Currie, Truls Mørk and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra cond. John Storgårds *

2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...

Camille Saint-Saëns Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (, , 9October 183516 December 1921) was a French composer, organist, conductor and pianist of the Romantic music, Romantic era. His best-known works include Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (1863), the Piano ...

: ''Cello Concertos Nos 1 and 2'', ''Africa, Caprice-Valse "Wedding-cake"'', Hélène Mercier, piano, Louis Lortie, piano, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, dir.

Neeme Järvi Neeme Järvi (; born 7 June 1937) is an Estonian Americans, Estonian American conductor. Early life Järvi was born in Tallinn. He initially studied music there, and later in Saint Petersburg, Leningrad at the Leningrad Conservatory under Yevge ...

, (SACD Chandos)

Compilations

: ''Movements'' ( Statoil), with Leif Ove Andsnes, Ole Edvard Antonsen, Marianne Thorsen *

: ''Andsnes, Antonsen, Mørk'' ( EMI Classics) *

: ''Cello Concertos'' ( Virgin Classics), 5xCD *

: ''Haydn: Violin Concertos • Cello Concertos'' ( Virgin Classics), 2xCD * 2006: ''Chostakovitch: Cello Concertos'' ( EMI Classics), 5xCD *

2013 2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years). 2013 was designated as: *International Year of Water Cooperation *International Year of Quinoa Events January * January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...

: '' Truls Mørk - Greatest Cello Concertos'' (Erato\ Warner Classics), 9XCD

References

External links

* at the Norwegian Academy of Music
ICS Exclusive Interview

HarrisonParrott agency page on Truls Mørk

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mork, Truls 1961 births Living people Musicians from Bergen Norwegian classical cellists Grammy Award winners Academic staff of the Norwegian Academy of Music Spellemannprisen winners Virgin Classics artists Simax Classics artists Deutsche Grammophon artists EMI Classics and Virgin Classics artists