Håvard Enstad
PIANIST, CELLIST & COMPOSER
"American minimalism spiced with Debussy's harmony: this is the best way to describe Håvard Enstad's style. His pieces are built up from repetitive-variable elements, forming undulating surfaces of incessantly beaming sounds that invite contemplation and a deep yet relaxing inward focus."
Zene Haza - BUDAPEST
Graduated from the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, as a classical pianist, Enstad has been involved in several musical projects around Europe, in various genres, and that has shaped his musical language and given him a unique tone. Blending ostinatos inspired by baroque music, with his roots from Norway and influences from eastern rhythms and harmonies, Enstad’s music is very recognizable and very appealing, and has left audience around Europe intrigued, baffled and sometimes even in tears.
After years of working as a pianist at Institut del Teatre in Barcelona he started focusing more on a career as a composer and did a degree in composing at Music und Kunst Privatuniversität 2021-2022, in Vienna. Currently performing only with own compositions, both in solo concert and chamber music settings, but also bigger ensembles like his latest production Cave Competence, (recorded on Gramola label in Vienna, 2022) for string orchestra, percussion and narrator. His influence from folk/world music is very present after being involved as an artistic director in Ethno Catalunya (Spain) and Ethno Arctic (Norway) for several years.
A close relationship with leading musicians in Armenian’s World Music seen has marked his career. He arranged folk songs and composed music for Vigen Hovsepyan’s debut album «Echoes - Revived Armenian Folk Songs» (Pomegranate Music 2017), they also won an award (Audience Choice Award) at the Armenian music competition Tsovits Tsov in Moscow 2014. In 2022 Enstad was the official festival composer in Lytt på Nytt, Mosjøen, Norway.
The last years Enstad has performed his solo piano recitals in Malta, Hungary, Austria, Norway, Spain and Germany. Enstad has released 3 albums with his own compositions, Symmetry (2019), Patterns (2021) and Cave Competence (2022). Upcoming commissions is composing music for a new musical written by Jordi Folk premiering in Catalonia 2024, A requiem commissioned by Vox Humana Choir in Oslo, a solo cello piece for renowned norwegian cellist Audun Sandvik.