A lover of Plaid suits and Nike running shoes, 29-year-old Aksel Kolstad stands out as an anomaly among his musical peers. He is not providing bass driven fist-pumping pop masterpieces or sacrificing his dignity for a chuckle from beer-swilling frat boys, he instead has opted for the road less traveled. In a world where fart jokes and insults are comedic gold and sexual innuendo, nonsensical lyrics and excessive auto-tune sessions pass for decent music; Kolstad shines as an unlikely purveyor of highbrow comedy and classical music. The composer has earned a Masters in music in his native country of Norway, had been accepted into the prestigious Manhattan school of music and is the founder of “Café De Concert” and organization whose goal is to return classical music to the masses. As if these aren’t enough the composer may now add a stint at Carnegie Hall to his growing credentials.
We were lucky enough to be invited to Kolstad’s American debut in New York’s most prestigious venue. A packed house was no match for the young composer he attacks the stage with the skill of a seasoned vet varying in mood from intensely focused pianist to comedian in mere seconds. As a musician, Kolstad tickles the ivories in complex melodies and sweeping crescendo a lovely sound that matches the intensity of his gaze, but not the grace in his movements. Aksel is at home in front of the piano and it shows. His humor lives in direct contrast as he adopts unexpected silliness that is charming. Without succumbing to the abstract buffoonery of today’s comic the composer offers a comedy of subtlety as if the routine is merely a welcome break from the intensity of his playing. Engaging and sincere Kolstad connects wit his audience like an old friend. The comedic composer’s debut was a rousing success worthy of a standing ovation.
Kolstad is a one-man ensemble of hilarity, intensity, and talent. With unnerving ease, he moves you from awe to amusement a feat not many can achieve. Carnegie Hall is to a composer what the Cooperstown is to a baseball player. It is the culmination of a life’s work, The happy ending afforded to an entertainer who has experienced a lifetime of rejection and strife. However, for Kolstad, this performance marks the beginning of what promises to be a brilliant career of laughter and song.
For a Glimpse at what you missed and tour, info visit his site: www.akselkolstad.com (Be sure to listen to “Woman with a Head of Roses and “Poetry of America”, 2 amazing compositions and “Goldfish” which was featured in the show.)
Aksel Kolstad sneak preview from his Carnegie Hall performance.