Biography (read more)

Otto Tolonen (born 1980) is a Finnish classical guitarist. He began his studies under Andrzej Wilkus at the Espoo Music Institute, later studying in Germany with Thomas Müller-Pering and Jürgen Ruck, and at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy, with Oscar Ghiglia, where he was awarded the Diploma di Merito in three consecutive years. Between 1995 and 2009 he won prizes in twenty international competitions, including first prizes at the Andrés Segovia Competition in La Herradura, Spain, and the Markneukirchen instrumental competition in Germany. He is professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo and also teaches at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.

Tolonen’s repertoire spans Renaissance vihuela and lute works through to contemporary music, and he is internationally recognised as an interpreter of Hans Werner Henze’s guitar works. As a professor at two leading Nordic conservatories, he has also shaped a generation of Scandinavian guitarists.

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Repertoire

Study 8, Op. 6— Fernando Sor
Strange Encounters (Drei Stücke für Gitarre und Elektronik)— Composer not established
Francaise— Jacques Ibert
Esquisse: No. 3, Serenade (Arr. for Guitar)— Gustave Samazeuilh
Hommage à Alonso Mudarra— Georges Auric
Guitare— Germaine Tailleferre
Segoviana, Op. 366— Darius Milhaud
Sarabande, FP 179— Francis Poulenc
Tiento— Maurice Ohana
Hommage à Claude Debussy: I. Prelude— Georges Migot
Hommage à Claude Debussy: II. Pastorale— Georges Migot
Hommage à Claude Debussy: III. Postlude— Georges Migot
Segovia, Op. 29— Albert Roussel
Ariette— Jacques Ibert
Collectici intim: No. 1, La Serenor (Serenity)— Vicente Asencio
Collectici intim: No. 2, La Joia (Joy)— Vicente Asencio
Collectici intim: No. 3, La Calma (Calm)— Vicente Asencio
Collectici intim: No. 4, La Gaubanca (Delight)— Vicente Asencio
Collectici intim: No. 5, La Frisanca (Haste)— Vicente Asencio
3 Gnossiennes: Gnossienne No. 1 (Arr. R. Dyens for Guitar)— Érik Satie
Guitar Suite, Op. 32: I. Fantasia— Erik Bergman
Guitar Suite, Op. 32: II. Canzonetta— Erik Bergman
Guitar Suite, Op. 32: III. Toccata— Erik Bergman
Alone— Jarkko Hartikainen
Odota— Aki Yli-Salomäki
The Threatened Assassin…— Adam Vilagi
Elegietta— Sauli Zinovjev
Tenebrae, Op. 39— Jouni Kaipainen
Sonate D Major D 384: Allegro molto— Composer not established
Sonate D Major D 384: Andante— Composer not established
Sonate D Major D 384: Allegro vivace— Composer not established
6 Romanian Folk Dances: Jocul cu bâtă— Composer not established
6 Romanian Folk Dances: Brâul— Composer not established
6 Romanian Folk Dances: Pe loc— Composer not established
6 Romanian Folk Dances: Buciumeana— Composer not established
6 Romanian Folk Dances: “Poarga” Românească— Composer not established
6 Romanian Folk Dances: Mănuntelul— Composer not established
Histoire du Tango: Bordel 1900— Composer not established
Histoire du Tango: Café 1930— Composer not established
Histoire du Tango: Nightclub 1960— Composer not established
Histoire du Tango: Concert d’aujourd’hui— Composer not established
Las 4 Estaciones Porteñas: No. 3, Primavera Porteña (Arr. for Guitar)— Astor Piazzolla
Nocturne, Op. 19 (Rêverie)— Giulio Regondi
Las 4 Estaciones Porteñas: No. 1, Verano Porteño (Arr. for Guitar)— Astor Piazzolla
Las Seis Cuerdas: I. Linee irradianti— Alvaro Company
Las Seis Cuerdas: II. Danzando— Alvaro Company
Las Seis Cuerdas: III. Improvvisando— Alvaro Company
Las Seis Cuerdas: IV. Microjazz— Alvaro Company
Las Seis Cuerdas: V. Vaghi capricci…— Alvaro Company
Las Seis Cuerdas: VI. Serenata burlesca— Alvaro Company
Las Seis Cuerdas: VII. Bianco-nero (Ostinato)— Alvaro Company
Las 4 Estaciones Porteñas: No. 2, Otoño Porteño (Arr. for Guitar)— Astor Piazzolla
2 Canzoni lidie: No. 1, —— Nuccio D’Angelo
2 Canzoni lidie: No. 2, —— Nuccio D’Angelo
Las 4 Estaciones Porteñas: No. 4, Invierno Porteño (Arr. for Guitar)— Astor Piazzolla
Alfonsina y el Mar— Ariel Ramírez
Royal Winter Music, Guitar Sonata No. 1: I. Gloucester— Hans Werner Henze
Royal Winter Music, Guitar Sonata No. 1: II. Romeo & Juliet— Hans Werner Henze
Royal Winter Music, Guitar Sonata No. 1: III. Ariel— Hans Werner Henze
Royal Winter Music, Guitar Sonata No. 1: IV. Ophelia— Hans Werner Henze
Royal Winter Music, Guitar Sonata No. 1: V. Touchstone, Audrey & William— Hans Werner Henze
Royal Winter Music, Guitar Sonata No. 1: VI. Oberon— Hans Werner Henze
Royal Winter Music, Guitar Sonata No. 2: I. Sir Andrew Aguecheek— Hans Werner Henze
Royal Winter Music, Guitar Sonata No. 2: II. Bottom’s Dream— Hans Werner Henze
Royal Winter Music, Guitar Sonata No. 2: III. Mad Lady Macbeth— Hans Werner Henze
Nocturnal After John Dowland, Op. 70 (Reflections on “Come, Heavy Sleep”) : I. Musingly— Benjamin Britten
Nocturnal After John Dowland, Op. 70 (Reflections on “Come, Heavy Sleep”) : II. Very Agitated— Benjamin Britten
Nocturnal After John Dowland, Op. 70 (Reflections on “Come, Heavy Sleep”) : III. Restless— Benjamin Britten
Nocturnal After John Dowland, Op. 70 (Reflections on “Come, Heavy Sleep”) : IV. Uneasy— Benjamin Britten
Nocturnal After John Dowland, Op. 70 (Reflections on “Come, Heavy Sleep”) : V. March-like— Benjamin Britten
Nocturnal After John Dowland, Op. 70 (Reflections on “Come, Heavy Sleep”) : VI. Dreaming— Benjamin Britten
Nocturnal After John Dowland, Op. 70 (Reflections on “Come, Heavy Sleep”) : VII. Gently Rocking— Benjamin Britten
Nocturnal After John Dowland, Op. 70 (Reflections on “Come, Heavy Sleep”) : VIII. Passacaglia— Benjamin Britten
Nocturnal After John Dowland, Op. 70 (Reflections on “Come, Heavy Sleep”) : IX. Slow & Quiet— Benjamin Britten