Lars Anders Tomter is regarded as one of the leading violists of our time. Dubbed “The Giant of the Nordic Viola” by The Strad magazine, he was born in Hamar, Norway, and began playing violin and viola at the age of eight. He studied both instruments with Professor Leif Jørgensen at the Oslo Conservatory of Music and the Norwegian Academy of Music, and continued his studies with Professor Max Rostal and Sándor Végh.

Lars Anders Tomter’s international solo career began in 1987 with a major tour of the United States and Germany with the prestigious Norwegian Chamber Orchestra. Since then, his solo appearances have been widely acclaimed by audiences and critics across Europe and the United States, in renowned venues such as the Musikverein in Vienna, Carnegie Hall in New York, Wigmore Hall in London, Konzerthaus Berlin, and the Cologne Philharmonie.

He has performed as soloist with orchestras including the BBC Symphony, BBC Scottish Symphony, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, RSO Frankfurt, NDR Radio Philharmonic Hannover, Gürzenich-Orchester Köln, and the Budapest Festival Orchestra, under conductors such as Marc Albrecht, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Sylvain Cambreling, Dennis Russell Davies, Olari Elts, Daniele Gatti, Krzysztof Penderecki, Okko Kamu, Arvid Jansons, and Dmitri Kitayenko.

In chamber music, Lars Anders Tomter frequently collaborates with distinguished musicians and is a regular participant in festivals including BBC Proms, Lockenhaus, Kissinger Sommer, Mondseetage, Schleswig-Holstein, Schwetzingen, Styriarte, Verbier, and numerous Scandinavian festivals.

He served as Artistic Director of the Risør Chamber Music Festival in Norway and is currently Artistic Director of the Norwegian Fjord Classics Festival

His extensive repertoire encompasses all the major works of contemporary viola literature, and he has recorded numerous albums for labels including Simax, Naxos, Virgin Classics, NMC, Somm, and Chandos.

Lars Anders Tomter is Professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music and performs on an exceptional viola made by Gasparo da Salò in 1590.