| Nils Larsen | |
| Birth Date: | 7 June 1888 |
| Birth Place: | Kristiania |
| Instrument: | Piano |
| Years Active: | 1908–1924 |
Nils Larsen (June 7, 1888 – November 5, 1937) was a Norwegian pianist, composer, and pedagogue.[1] [2] He was one of Norway's leading pianists before the Second World War[2] and was an influential promoter of Norwegian piano performance.
Larsen was born in Kristiania (now Oslo).[1] [2] As a young man he studied under Martin Knutzen from 1906 to 1909.[1] [2] He made his debut as a composer with four works in 1908 and as a pianist at the Gamle Logen concert hall in 1909.[2] In Berlin he studied under José Vianna da Motta and Rudolph Ganz from 1910 to 1914.[1] [2] He spent time in the United States from 1919 to 1920,[2] and he toured Norway with the violinist Leif Halvorsen[3] [4] with great success until his last concert, on January 15, 1924.[2] During this time he produced several compositions; these are smaller pieces that are still used in teaching.
Larsen was also affiliated with the Oslo Philharmonic and he operated the Nils Larsen Piano School (Norwegian: Nils Larsens klaverskole) at Parkveien 75 in Oslo.[2] He taught over forty students until their debuts. Among his students were Robert Levin,[5] Robert Riefling,[2] Reimar Riefling,[2] Tore Sinding,[6] Elisabeth Reiss, Eline Nygaard, Kristian Hauger,[2] Sølvi Wang, Gunvor Mjelva, Ester Skogsrud, Ruth Lagesen, Ingebjørg Gresvik, Hans Solum, Hildegunn Reuter, Kåre Siem, Klaus Egge,[7] [8] Johan Øian,[2] and Ivar Johnsen. After his early death, responsibility for the piano school was taken over by his former student Ingebjørg Gresvik.