Rolf Lislevand was born in 1961 in Oslo. From 1980-84 he studied the classical guitar at the Norwegian State Academy of Music. In 1984 he entered the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland, which was then the most active early music centre in Europe. He studied there until 1987, under the guidance of Hopkinson Smith and Eugène Dombois. He was then asked by Jordi Savall to accompany him with groups such as Hespèrion XX, La Capella Reial de Catalunya and the Concert des Nations. Through Savall, he acquired first-hand knowledge of 17th century French viola da gamba music, just as Montserrat Figueras introduced him to 16th and 17th century Spanish vocal music.
Since 1993 his recordings have been released on the Naive/Astrée label. With the Ensemble Kapsberger he presents a new artistic concept of the instrumental music of the 17th century and a revisionist approach to current performing traditions in early music. His first Cd of music by the Italian-born lutist Hieronymus Kapsberger received the French “Diapason d’Or de l’année 1994” award, along with glowing reviews. The same year, the Kapsberger Cd was voted the Best Record of Music before 1650 at the Midem international music industry fair in Cannes and, in 1995, Critics’ choice of Gramophone. In 2000, the Santiago de Murcia Cd was voted the Best Record of 17th-18th century music at the Midem international music industry fair in Cannes and was awarded the French Diapason d’Or de l’année 2000.
He currently appears as a soloist or directing his ensemble at numerous festivals in Europe, USA and Asia.
Lislevand is a professor at the Staatliche Hochschule fur Musik in Trossingen (Germany).
He performed at the Stresa Festival in 2006.