Liceu Cambra Masterclasses & Concerts is synonymous with great music and musical wisdom shared by the greatest performers and creators. This concert series reaches its ninth edition this year, reaffirming itself as one of the most interesting initiatives of its kind, and, as always expected, a meeting point for the students of the Higher Center of the Liceu Conservatory with the great international masters, and as an appointment for music lovers from Barcelona with the best music.
Xavier Larsson, born in 1991, embarked on his musical journey in Ciutadella de Menorca, where he initially studied the violin and saxophone. He continued his Bachelor’s degree with Prof. Albert Julià at the Conservatori del Liceu, receiving the Extraordinary Prize. His musical education concludes at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, earning a Konzertexamen degree under the guidance of Prof. Daniel Gauthier, as well as a Master’s degree in New Music under Prof. David Smeyers.
As a soloist, he has performed at prestigious venues worldwide, including the Köln Philharmonie, Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Frankfurt Alte Oper, Viena’s Musikverein, Palau de la Música Catalana, Auditorio Nacional de Madrid, and Chicago Cultural Center. He has collaborated with conductors such as Ingo Metzmacher, Francesc Prat, Stefan Blunier, Paul Mann, Mario Kiosk, and Vanich Potavanich.
Larsson’s solo performances have earned him first prizes in various national and international music competitions, including the Classic Winds International Festival 2016 in Germany, SaxoVoce 2016 in France, Intermusica 2014 in Austria, Michal Spisak 2014 in Poland, International Saxophone Competition Lodz 2012 in Poland, and Concurso Permanente Jóvenes Intérpretes Juventudes Musicales 2009 in Spain.
His chamber music achievements include first prizes at the August Everding Musikwettbewerb 2021 in Germany, the 20th International Chamber Music Competition in Illzach, France (2017), Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Hochschulwettbewerb 2014 in Germany, and the Karlsruher Wettbewerb für die Interpretation Neue Musik 2014 in Germany, as well as the Coop Musik Award in 2014 in Italy.
He has been honored with scholarships including the Hezekiah Wardwell scholarship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Fundació Música Ferrer-Salat, Fundació Agustí Pedro i Pons, Märkische Kulturstiftung in Lüdenscheid, and the Alfred Toepfer scholarship in Hamburg.
Xavier Larsson is a member of the Fukio Quartet and the Trio SpiegelBild, and he also participates as a violinist in various projects with the OCIM Chamber Orchestra. Furthermore, he conducted the Saxophone Ensemble from Fundació Conservatori Liceu from 2016 to 2023.
His recordings on CDs produced by Columna Música and Ars Produktion feature compositions by artists like Georg Friedrich Haas, Caroline Shaw, Fabien Lévy, Robin Hofmann, Bruno Mantovani, and Edison Denisov.
Currently, Xavier Larsson holds teaching positions at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin and the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln.
Liceu Cambra – Masterclasses & Concerts series has the patronage of Ferrer-Salat Music Foundation.