Who is Johan Dalene?
Johan Dalene is a 22-year-old Swedish violinist who made his big break in 2019, when he was awarded first prize at the prestigious Carl Nielsen International Competition. Since then he has won respect for the intelligence of his interpretations, the elegance of his tone and the spontaneity of his performances – not least from the renowned Dutch violinist Janine Jansen, with whom he has taken several classes.
When and where was he born?
He was born in Norrköping, Sweden, on 5 August 2000.
Where has he performed?
Recently selected as a European Concert Hall Organization (ECHO) Rising Star, he has performed at venues ranging from the Musikverein Wien to Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam. From 2019-21, he was also a BBC New Generation Artist, and gave performances with the BBC Orchestras, which were broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
How did he decide to take up the violin?
Born to two musicians - his mother is a pianist, and his father a cellist - Dalene initially wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and take up the cello. Keen however, that the four-year-old Dalene should tread his own path, his father encouraged him to try the violin first and to switch to the cello after a year if he didn't enjoy it. He ended up sticking with it.
What kind of music does he like to play?
Although he is well-versed in core repertoire, he has a soft spot for Scandinavian music. He was widely praised last year for his album of Nordic music for violin and piano, as well as his recording of violin concertos by Nielsen and Sibelius, which was released in 2022. That fine disc earned a five-star review from us - and was also nominated in the Concerto category of the 2023 BBC Music Magazine Awards.
Does he have other hobbies?
Yes, he is a keen footballer; for a while, in his early teens, Dalene was even more enthused about playing football than about playing the violin. He also describes himself as a bit of a foodie and admits that one silver lining about the lockdown was the chance to watch Netflix and learn how to cook.
When can I hear him perform?
Check the Concerts section of Johan's website to find out his upcoming performances.
Photo: Mats Bäcker
