Recepient of the Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Carl-Nielsens Honorary award 2025
Mar - 2025
Extremely honored to be receiving the Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Carl Nielsen Honorary award 2025 in the best company one could imagine. These are absolutely stellar artists: Bára Gísladóttir, Kirstine Lindemann, Michala Petri
Bjarke Mogensen and Stephen Milling.
Thank you so much to the board and everyone who I have ever collaborated with – you are all a part of this.
link to press: https://nielsen-legat.dk/
Statement by the board (in danish):
“Signe Lykke er en komponist der ubesværet og med stor kunstnerisk integritet integrerer tidens teknologiske udtryksmidler i både musikkens storformater som opera, surround-sound, symfoniorkester og dans, men også skaber enkle og smukt formede lydlandskaber for film og kammerensembler. Signe Lykke insisterer på samskabelse som forudsætning for den gode musikoplevelse”
New video of “TEMPER”
Mar - 2025
Movement Studies in the Living Room / variation II, Performance by: Sedrig Verwoert & Reina Trifunovic (2023).
Choreography by Sedrig Verwoert, Sound: Temper by Signe Lykke. Performed in Living Room / variation II (2023) by Random International as part of the exhibition ‘Life in a Different Resolution’ at Nxt Museum, The Netherlands. Curated by Bogomir Doringer, Commissioned by Nxt Museum (2023), Videography: Jip Mus
New guitar concerto
Mar - 2025
Excited to be writing my first guitar concerto with the fantastic Frederik Munk Larsen (professor at the Royal Academy in Aarhus, Denmark and The Grieg Academy in Bergen, Norway). Premiere in 2028 – more news to follow.
Interview in Magasinet Klassisk
Mar - 2025
Thank you for the in depth interview Jeppe Rönnow for Magasinet Klassisk. Talking about a co creative way of working, “Leaning Tree” a new piece for symphony and dance and “Bell Jar” for symphony and three percussion. Both pieces premieres in October 2023.
Link to article (in danish): https://klassisk.org/artikel/jeg-har-et-kaempe-behov-for-at-saette-min-musik-fri-interview-signe-lykke/
New piece for Barbara Hannigan
Mar - 2025
Very excited to be writing a new piece for soprano extraordinaire Barbara Hannigan. The piece will be featured on a new album with two new additional orchestral pieces: “CRUX” and “Eyes opened. Glazed with a milky film of sleep”. More news to follow
Rued Langgaard festival composer 2027
Mar - 2025
In addition to a new site specific 60 min. piece for symphony, choir and chamber orchestra, I will be festival composer at Rued Langgaard festival 2027. Extremely grateful for this collaboration.
World premiere “NACHERLEBEN” May 2025
Mar - 2025
“NACHERLEBEN” for solo trombone and orchestra will have its world premiere at the Royal Opera House in Copenhagen on the 29th of May 2025 with conductor Marie Jacquot, the Royal Danish Orchestra and trombone player Jesper Busk Sørensen from the Berlin Philharmonics.
“Leaning Tree” tour 2025
Mar - 2025
“Leaning Tree” goes on tour 2025.
6th – 9th of March at the Royal Opera house (all 6 shows are sold out)
12th of March: Aarhus Musikhus
13th of March: Vejle Musikteater
24 of March: Roskilde Teater
1st of April: Odense Teater
3rd of April: Sønderborg Teater
8th of May: Helsingør Teater
12th of June: Kuopio Dance Festival, Finland
13th of June: Kuopio Dance Festival, Finland
“Bell Jar” is selected for IRC 2024
Mar - 2025
Extremely grateful and excited to share that “Bell Jar” for symphony orchestra and three percussion has been selected to represent Denmark for the International Rostrum of Composers 2024 in Vilnius.
Leaning Tree is Reumert nominated
Mar - 2025
“Leaning Tree” for dance and symphony orchestra is Reumert nominated. Commissioned by Copenhagen Phil and Danish Dance Theatre, world premiere at the Royal Playhouse Main stage in Copenhagen, October 2023
Interview in The Strad
Mar - 2025
Read about some of the initial thoughts and ideas behind the piece “CRUX” for string orchestra and violin. Commissioned by four string orchestras in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.
It is beautifully written by Andrew Mellor and talks about artistic ownership, improvisation, creative communionship and more.
Link to article: https://www.thestrad.com/for-subscribers/your-own-voice-must-be-in-charge-creating-an-improvised-violin-concerto/17760.article
Random International collab
Jan - 2025
Random International’s solo exhibition: “Life in a different resolution” (2023 – 2025) curated by Bogomir Doringer for Nxt Museum in Amsterdam.
What a ride. I wrote a new piece for 9 prepared woodwinds entitled “TEMPER” for the installation “Living Room”.
Living Room explores the idea of space as a living being. Visitors are invited to enter a fluctuating architectural domain, which is itself a sentient organism embodied in light and fog. The organism uses these materials to express itself and interact with those who inhabit it.
Interviews, photos, video:
Random International
Interview Aesthetica Magazine
Interview Artnet.com
Interview Art Frame.org
Listen to “TEMPER”
Oct - 2024
“Lyden af farver” a podcast about color and sound. A conversation with painter extraodinaire Emily Gernild. Been invited to share a track that sounds like the color, Aubergine wine red. Give it a spin and listen to “TEMPER” (interview in Danish)
Podcast: “lyden af farver”
“ORD” a new book by Politikens forlag
Mar - 2024
Over 200 prominent Danes contribute to a new work that celebrates the Danish language.
What happens when you ask a wide range of Denmark’s most interesting voices to interpret a word that holds special meaning for them? This question serves as the starting point for ORD, and the result is a vibrant and experimental collection of texts and artworks that are as diverse as the participants themselves.
My word is: “Evighed”
Carl award Interview
Mar - 2024
Talking to fellow award winner Ida Brinch about music, co creating, opera and everything in between in this interview: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=397937223081761
New trombone concerto
Mar - 2024
currently working on a trombone concerto for the incredible trombone player from the Berlin Philharmonic Jesper Busk Sørensen. The piece is commissioned by the Royal Danish Orchestra and Aarhus Symphony orchestra and will have its world premiere in May 2025 in Copenhagen Opera House with the Royal Danish Orchestra and conductor Marie Jacquot.
“Kun stemmen bliver tilbage” world premiere at BLOOM festival 24
Mar - 2024
The opera “Kun stemmen bliver tilbage” by artist collective Motherboard has its world premiere on the 24th of Maj at Bloom Festival in Copenhagen. It then travels the country to be featured on four other festivals during June – September 2024. Extremely proud of the hard work, dedication and risk taking from both festivals, curators and collaborators.
Artist in Residency announcement at BLOOM Festival
Mar - 2024
Excited to share that I will be artist in residence for the next three years at BLOOM Festival in Copenhagen. I will be working with award winning string quartet NOVO quartet and in May we will present 4 solo pieces exploring the symbiotic relationship between microbes and humans.
Bloom presents some of the brightest researchers, scientists, philosophers, thinkers, and artists of our time. Everything takes place in a participative, recreational, and sensory setting, where concerts, food, art installations, an open laboratory, and other breathing spaces seduce and captivate.
New commission from Theatre of Voices and Paul Hillier
Feb - 2024
Writing a new vocal piece for grammy winning Theatre of Voices and Paul Hillier to be premiered in June 24 with an additional recording later this year.
Nordkraft nominated for a Reumert Award
May - 2022
The opera “Nordkraft” is nominated for a Reumert 2022 award in the category “best opera”. The award ceremony takes place at Odeon in Odense June 12th.
Nordkraft won a Carl Award
May - 2022
The opera “Nordkraft” has won a Carl Award 2022 in the category “Large ensemble” together. The piece was nominated alongside Bent Sørensens´ piano concerto and Martin Staunings´ harp concerto. The award ceremony took place in Tivoli Copenhagen in June.
“I shall feed my eyes” world premiere in VEGA Cph.
May - 2022
New piece for award winning choir Ars Nova premiers in VEGA in Copenhagen on the 17th of October.
I shall feed my eyes is about overexposure – a circular narrative exploring two fundamental flaws of human behaviour: greed and self- staging. Subsequently the singers are not referred to as soprano, alto, tenor or bass, but merely Voyeurs.
The piece consists of six different movements referred to as Mirages, each movement exploring different ways of mirroring oneself whether on social media, in the privacy of your bathroom or in popular culture.
The text in “I shall feed my eyes” is a short extract from the Roman poet Ovid’s metamorphoses, book 3: the myth of Narcissus and Echo (8 AD). This piece is about the pool of water in which Narcissus falls in love with his own reflection and subsequently dies. This pool represents the age of digital narcissism – changing of mirrors from pool to screen. As relevant today as in the day of Ovid.
“Motherboard” – new artist collective by Signe Lykke and Katinka Fogh Vindelev
Apr - 2022
Newly founded artist collective, “Motherboard” is a community and a laboratory that radically rethinks opera – a group of artists each representing a creative field within opera´s core disciplines.
Motherboard is founded by composer Signe Lykke and performer and soprano Katinka Fogh Vindelev.
First performance of the opera trilogy by Motherboard to premier on CPH:DOX
Mar - 2022
The first chapter of the opera triologi entitled “Hele min Eksistens var som et Glas Mælk mellem mine Hænder” by artist collective “Motherboard” will premier at CPH:DOX festival on the 3rd of April 2022 at Statens Museum for Kunst. The opera will be presented in three different performative settings: a long durational opera performance by soprano Katinka Fogh Vindelev and percussionist Sara Nigaard Rosendal, a short film and four different film tableaus directed by film makers Cille Hannibal and Frigge Fri and the digital release of the score for “Hele min eksistens var som et glas mælk mellem mine hænder”.
Nordkraft in Politiken as “event of the year 2021”
Dec - 2021
Nordkraft is mentioned in Politiken as one of the most memorable events of 2021. “Abstinenser og mørke: med operaen “Nordkraft” skabte komponist Signe Lykke og tekstforfatter Nila Parly en forestilling, der indfangede det hårde narkomiljø omkring en flok unge i Aalborg. Ved at omforme forestillingen i Ejersbo roman til tre scener uden for tid og sted lykkedes det at bruge opera genren til det den virkelig kan: skabe store stemninger og følelser. Værket blev en begivenhed i 2021″
Review of Nordkraft in Financial Times
Aug - 2021
Review of Nordkraft in Nordjyske Stiftstidense
Aug - 2021
Review of Nordkraft in Sceneblog
Aug - 2021
Signe Lykke on Nordkraft short documentary
Aug - 2021