The Musician

Mogens Friis has devoted his career to chamber music, soloist performances, and teaching, and he was educated by studies with principal flutist Verner Nicolet from the Royal Opera Orchestra in Copenhagen and graduated with a diploma with distinction from Hochschule für Musik "Franz Liszt" in Weimar with prof. Johannes Walter, principal flutist in Staatskapelle Dresden. The interest in Boehm flutes of wood later led to studies with two prominent and experienced musicians, principal flutist Jan Visser of the Royal Concertgebouw Orkest, Amsterdam, and principal flutist Mathias Schmidt of Staatskapelle Berlin, where the wooden flute has been used for decades.

Verner Nicolet and Mogens Friis  - "Deux Flûtes" 

On Flutes - a Stradivarius 

I have a collection of flutes from the 1800s and more recent time from Europe, America, and Japan. Furthermore I play on many different headjoints of wood, carbon fibre and various precious metals in silver, gold and platinum as they have decisive influence on the sound. My favourite headjoint is of sterling silver and built according to Louis Lot tradition by Johan Brögger; it is with an extra thin tube of 0,28mm, a slim parabola and a relatively small embouchure, blowhole whiich gives a light and bright sound – in my opinion a pure Stradivarius.

♪ C.Ph.E. Bach: Largo 5:15, Live recording - "Deux Flûtes"-  Verner Nicolet (Muramatzu gold) and Mogens Friis (Brögger silver)  
♪ J.M.Leclair: Sarabande 2:42, Live recording - Mogens Friis, flute, (Brögger 14k gold)
                                                

The Brögger System


At the beginning of the 1980s I became acquainted with the Danish flutemaker, Johan Brögger in Copenhagen, and later we have developed an intense friendship and extensive co-operation. Since 1986 I have worked for Johan Brögger at transforming his inventions into patents and design protection, and in his workshop I have carried out fine overhauls, restoration, and building of flutes. Johan Brögger's flutes are produced by Brannen Broths, Boston and Miyazawa Flutes, Japan.

See photos of the original Brögger flute

Theobald Boehm - On Playing the Flute

The inventor, musician, and composer Theobald Boehm (1794 – 1881) - writes in his book ”Die Flöte und das Flötenspiel”, - I believe that I have now pointed out the surest way in which one may acquire a correct and elegant style of playing, so that he may be prepared to delight himself and others not only with difficult compositions, but also with simple and beautifully played songs.

"He who, like myself, has been fortunate enough to have heard, for more than 50 years, all the greatest singers of the time, will never forget their names. It fills me with joy to remember their artistic and splendid performances; they have all come forth from the good old Italian school of song, which today, as in the past 100 years, gives the foundation for a good voice formation, and leads to a correct understanding of style, which is an essential for the instrumentalist as well as for the singer.

Theobald Boehm

See photos of original Böhm flutes 

♪ Bel Canto song: Una Furtiva Lagrima 6:00 , Joseph Schmidt, tenor
♪ Aramaic Prayer in cantorial style: Ano Avdoh 5:50 , Joseph Schmidt, tenor
♪ Cavalleria Rusticana: O Lola Ch’ai Di Latti 3:27, Jussi Björling, tenor
 

Flute Technique: See literature on flute technique and performance practise.