MORTEN GROVE FRANDSEN
COUNTER-TENOR
REVIEWS
“He is excellent, and you sense his reluctance at constantly being drawn into the game of power.”
— Kulturinformation,
“Beautiful, haunting and astonishingly versatile.”
— Theatre Now, Edinburgh Fringe 2026
“Morten Grove Frandsen sings with a vocal control, sensitivity and phrasing I have not previously experienced.”
— Klassisk
Danish countertenor Morten Grove Frandsen has established himself as a distinctive presence on the opera and concert stage, with a repertoire spanning Baroque and Classical works as well as contemporary opera. A regular guest at the Royal Danish Opera, he is particularly recognised for his vocal versatility, expressive intensity and strong theatrical presence.
Recent highlights at the Royal Danish Opera include The Boy in George Benjamin’s Written on Skin, Ottone in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea and David in Handel’s Saul. His performance as The Boy in Katie Mitchell’s acclaimed production of Written on Skin was praised for its exceptional vocal control, sensitivity and phrasing, while his David in Barrie Kosky’s production of Saul was described as his “greatest triumph to date”.
His extensive relationship with the Royal Danish Opera also includes Thomas Adès’ The Exterminating Angel, Hans Abrahamsen’s The Snow Queen, David Bruce’s Nothing, Mozart’s Mitridate, re di Ponto, Louise Alenius’ Manualen, John Frandsen’s Martyriet and Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus.
Contemporary music forms a central part of Morten’s artistic work. He has appeared in numerous world premieres and collaborated closely with composers on the creation of new opera. Among these are Niels Rønsholdt’s Den Sidste Olie, Louise Alenius’ immersive opera Silent Zone and Karsten Fundal’s Incognito Royal. His work in contemporary opera has taken him to companies and festivals including Scottish Opera, Trondheim Opera, The Danish National Opera, The Funen Opera, Copenhagen Opera Festival, Aarhus Summer Opera, KLANG Festival and Riga Baroque Festival.
A particularly important project is the solo opera LOL – Laughing Out Lonely. Created around Morten’s remarkable vocal range, the work showcases his ability to move between countertenor, baritone and a variety of vocal and theatrical characters. His performance received nominations for both the Reumert Awards and the Dora Awards, and the production has subsequently toured internationally.
In the 2026/27 season, Morten returns to The Funen Opera as Romeo in Nicola Vaccaj’s Giulietta e Romeo, a leading bel canto role that further expands the classical side of his operatic repertoire.
On the concert platform, Morten has appeared with ensembles including Helsinki Baroque Orchestra, Copenhagen Phil and the Danish Chamber Orchestra. Recent engagements include a performance with Helsinki Baroque Orchestra and Aapo Häkkinen at Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci in Germany. His repertoire includes Bach’s St Matthew Passionand Mass in B minor, Handel’s Messiah, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Rossini’s Petite Messe solennelle, Verdi’s Requiem and Orff’s Carmina Burana.
Morten is the recipient of several major Danish distinctions, including the Léonie Sonning Talent Prize, a Reumert Talent Prize and the Artist Prize of the Danish Music Critics’ Association.
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Adès
Francisco de Ávila — The Exterminating Angel
Alenius
The Son — Silent Zone
Manualen — Manualen
Abrahamsen
Slotskragen — The Snow Queen
Benjamin
The Boy — Written on Skin
Bruce
Johan — Nothing
Frandsen
Kaj Munk — Martyriet
Fundal
Frou-Frou — Incognito Royal
Handel
David — Saul
Monteverdi
Ottone — L’incoronazione di Poppea
Mozart
Farnace — Mitridate, re di Ponto
Rønsholdt
Voice — LOL – Laughing Out Lonely
Strauss, J.
Prince Orlofsky — Die Fledermaus
Vaccaj
Romeo — Giulietta e Romeo
Wildhorn
Shoemaker — Dyrets år
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Bach
Countertenor — Mass in B minor
Countertenor — St Matthew Passion
Beethoven
Countertenor — Symphony No. 9
Handel
Countertenor — Messiah
Orff
Countertenor — Carmina Burana
Pergolesi
Countertenor — Stabat Mater
Rossini
Countertenor — Petite Messe solennelle
