NO / EN

The soloists’ choir and Ensemble Allegria perform the great Christmas classic

The musical Christmas story of all time

Johann Sebastian Bach's life-affirming Christmas Oratorio is on the program for this year's Christmas concerts with the Norwegian Soloists’ Choir, Ensemble Allegria and conductor Grete Pedersen. Together they perform the great Christmas classic!

For many, the work is a cherished part of the Christmas tradition. 300 years after its premiere, Bach's solemn and magnificent work with narrative recitatives and beautiful arias is more popular than ever. The music is composed over the Christmas Gospel and conveys the story of Jesus' birth. The oratorio consists of six parts which, in Bach's time, were performed over six public holidays. At this concert we will hear the first three.

With innovative energy and artistic vision, conductor Grete Pedersen has led The Norwegian Soloists' Choir to ever-new musical heights. In the summer of 2025, she will pass the baton after 35 years as Artistic Director, the same year the choir marks its 75th anniversary. It is the first time the Soloists' Choir and conductor Grete Pedersen will perform Bach's Christmas Oratorio together. This year's Christmas tour marks a monumental conclusion to a series of acclaimed Christmas projects they have done together.

Concerts

Friday December 13th - Jeløy Kirke - 19.00

Monday December 16th - Hamar domkirke - 18.00

Tuesday December 17th - Universitetets Aula - 18.00 and 21.00

NO / EN

The soloists’ choir and Ensemble Allegria perform the great Christmas classic

The musical Christmas story of all time

Johann Sebastian Bach's life-affirming Christmas Oratorio is on the program for this year's Christmas concerts with the Norwegian Soloists’ Choir, Ensemble Allegria and conductor Grete Pedersen. Together they perform the great Christmas classic!

For many, the work is a cherished part of the Christmas tradition. 300 years after its premiere, Bach's solemn and magnificent work with narrative recitatives and beautiful arias is more popular than ever. The music is composed over the Christmas Gospel and conveys the story of Jesus' birth. The oratorio consists of six parts which, in Bach's time, were performed over six public holidays. At this concert we will hear the first three.

With innovative energy and artistic vision, conductor Grete Pedersen has led The Norwegian Soloists' Choir to ever-new musical heights. In the summer of 2025, she will pass the baton after 35 years as Artistic Director, the same year the choir marks its 75th anniversary. It is the first time the Soloists' Choir and conductor Grete Pedersen will perform Bach's Christmas Oratorio together. This year's Christmas tour marks a monumental conclusion to a series of acclaimed Christmas projects they have done together.

Concerts

Friday December 13th - Jeløy Kirke - 19.00

Monday December 16th - Hamar domkirke - 18.00

Tuesday December 17th - Universitetets Aula - 18.00 and 21.00

NO / EN

The soloists’ choir and Ensemble Allegria perform the great Christmas classic

The musical Christmas story of all time

Johann Sebastian Bach's life-affirming Christmas Oratorio is on the program for this year's Christmas concerts with the Norwegian Soloists’ Choir, Ensemble Allegria and conductor Grete Pedersen. Together they perform the great Christmas classic!

For many, the work is a cherished part of the Christmas tradition. 300 years after its premiere, Bach's solemn and magnificent work with narrative recitatives and beautiful arias is more popular than ever. The music is composed over the Christmas Gospel and conveys the story of Jesus' birth. The oratorio consists of six parts which, in Bach's time, were performed over six public holidays. At this concert we will hear the first three.

With innovative energy and artistic vision, conductor Grete Pedersen has led The Norwegian Soloists' Choir to ever-new musical heights. In the summer of 2025, she will pass the baton after 35 years as Artistic Director, the same year the choir marks its 75th anniversary. It is the first time the Soloists' Choir and conductor Grete Pedersen will perform Bach's Christmas Oratorio together. This year's Christmas tour marks a monumental conclusion to a series of acclaimed Christmas projects they have done together.

Concerts

Friday December 13th - Jeløy Kirke - 19.00

Monday December 16th - Hamar domkirke - 18.00

Tuesday December 17th - Universitetets Aula - 18.00 and 21.00

NO / EN

The soloists’ choir and Ensemble Allegria perform the great Christmas classic

The musical Christmas story of all time

Johann Sebastian Bach's life-affirming Christmas Oratorio is on the program for this year's Christmas concerts with the Norwegian Soloists’ Choir, Ensemble Allegria and conductor Grete Pedersen. Together they perform the great Christmas classic!

For many, the work is a cherished part of the Christmas tradition. 300 years after its premiere, Bach's solemn and magnificent work with narrative recitatives and beautiful arias is more popular than ever. The music is composed over the Christmas Gospel and conveys the story of Jesus' birth. The oratorio consists of six parts which, in Bach's time, were performed over six public holidays. At this concert we will hear the first three.

With innovative energy and artistic vision, conductor Grete Pedersen has led The Norwegian Soloists' Choir to ever-new musical heights. In the summer of 2025, she will pass the baton after 35 years as Artistic Director, the same year the choir marks its 75th anniversary. It is the first time the Soloists' Choir and conductor Grete Pedersen will perform Bach's Christmas Oratorio together. This year's Christmas tour marks a monumental conclusion to a series of acclaimed Christmas projects they have done together.

Concerts

Friday December 13th - Jeløy Kirke - 19.00

Monday December 16th - Hamar domkirke - 18.00

Tuesday December 17th - Universitetets Aula - 18.00 and 21.00

NO / EN

Two timeless classics are united when Ensemble Allegria invites you to our Christmas concert in the University's Aula in Oslo this year.

With us we have one of the country's leading mediators; actress Lise Fjeldstad, who has captivated audiences of all ages with her performance of H. C. Andersen's fairy tale 'The Girl with the matches"‘ from the National Theatre's stage. The classic adventure from 1848 still touches us today, with a theme that is still relevant in our time.

In this year's Christmas concert, you will also hear Arnold Schönberg's infinitely beautiful Verklärte Nacht - a work that you might not immediately associate with Christmas, but which musically expresses many of the same emotions that H. C. Andersen's fairy tales evoke in us: desperation, shame and outsiderness, but also joy, optimism and reconciliation.

The rest of the concert's program will be built around these two masterpieces, with music and text that convey the themes of Christmas in various ways, and we promise a great experience with outstanding performers in one of the country's finest concert halls.

Lise Fjeldstad is one of Norway's leading actresses and, through her many interpretations of roles on stage, film, television and radio, has distinguished herself as a stage artist with a rare large register. With musicality, strong inner courage and clear psychological insight, she has played a large number of female roles, from poetic maiden roles to great tragic roles from the classic fate dramas.

She made her debut at the National Theater as Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire (1975). Since then, she has participated in over 50 productions, both as an actor and director.

Roles in selection, Nationaltheatret: Agnes in Brand, Elisabeth of Valois in Don Carlos, Hekabe in Trojanerinner, Lavinia in The Happy Choice, Title role in Maria Stuart, Martha in Who is afraid of Virginia Wolf?, Fanny Wilton in John Gabriel Borkman, Helene Alving in Gengangere, King Juliane in Life in violence, Maxine in Night of the Iguana, Irene in Når vi döde vaagner, Queen Gjertrud in Hamlet, The older woman in Sleep and Arkadina in The Seagull.

At other theatres, she has played the title role in Hedda Gabler, Solveig and Mor Aase in Peer Gynt, Ragnhild in Medmennesket, Gunhild in The fourth night guard, Charlotte in Høstsonaten, Rosalinde in As you like it, Alice in Døddansen and Tora Parsberg in Paul Long.

As an instructor, she has, among other things, set up Reisen til Julestjernen, Til Julia and Dansetimen at the Nationaltheatret. She has also staged performances at Teater Ibsen, Den Nationale Scene, Riksteatret, Det Norske Teatret, Rogaland Teater and Radioteatret.

Film and TV selection: Ljoba Andrejevna in The Cherry Garden, Nora in A Doll's Home, Asta Almers in Lille Eyolf, Maja in Naar vi dö vaagner, Yerma in Yerma, Alice in The Dance of Death, Wenche Løvdal in Fortuna, Beate in Størst av alt, Liv Hansen in Hvaler, female lead in Klabautermann, Little Ida, Madness and Dragon's Prisoner.

Awards and honours, selection: Swedish film's Guldbaggen (1982), Amanda prize for best female lead (1991), Radioteatrets Den Blå Fugl (1992), Per Aabel's Honorary prize (1992), Critics' prize (1993), Stiftelsen Akershus Festning for Art and Culture's honorary plaque (1998). Order of St. Olav (1993), "City Patriot" (2011), Rolf Gammeleng's Veteran Award (2012), Anders Jahres Culture Award (2013) and Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav (2014).

—-

This concert has been made possible by:

NO / EN

NÅ: Boulanger, Bacewicz and Tchaikovsky

For this autumn's first concert at Sentralen in Oslo, we bring music by two of the 20th century's most significant figures in European music life: French Lili Boulanger and Polish Grazyna Bacewicz.

The concert ends with one of our absolute favorite works: Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings. This piece has been with us for many years, and we have performed parts of the music hundreds of times in everything from kindergartens, schools, sports halls, in canteens, at subway stations and in large concert halls for thousands of people. This is a piece of music that we never tire of playing, and we are very much looking forward to sharing it with you again at Sentralen in September!

—-

Program:

Lili Boulanger: Cortége, Nocturne, D'un Jardin Clair and D'un Vieux Jardin

Grazyna Bacewicz: Concerto for string orchestra

Peter I. Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings

—-

The doors and bar in the Marmorsalen open at 6.15pm, and the concert starts at 7pm.

The bar is also open after the concert, which lasts about an hour.

NO / EN

NÅ: Boulanger, Bacewicz and Tchaikovsky

In May, the chamber orchestra Ensemble Allegria took over Holmlia, and presented a wide range of music for strings for everything from kindergarten children to seniors. Then the audience got to hear one sample of one of the orchestra's absolute favorite works: Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings.

On 5 September, the orchestra returns to Holmlia, and now you have the opportunity to hear this entire wonderful work, in addition to beautiful tones from two of the 20th century's most significant female composers: Lili Boulanger and Grazyna Bacewicz.

This program will also be played at Sentralen in the center of Oslo on 6 September at 19.00.

Program:

Lili Boulanger: Cortége, Nocturne, D'un Jardin Clair and D'un Vieux Jardin

Grazyna Bacewicz: Concerto for string orchestra

Peter I. Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings

—-

The program lasts approx. an hour, and no entrance fee will be charged, but the public is encouraged to pay according to desire and ability to vipps no. #140424

About Ensemble Allegria:

The string orchestra Ensemble Allegria is considered among the country's foremost classical ensembles, and has for the past 16 years thrilled audiences and reviewers with an energetic virtuosity and contagious musical joy. The orchestra is a regular guest at the major classical music festivals, and has over a number of years had a close collaboration with the Norwegian Soloist Choir.

NO/EN

August 12th you can hear Ensemble Allegria in a unique concert at the foot of Rondane on Kvamsfjellet. The internationally renowned percussionist and cymbalist Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen is soloist and musical director and with him on stage, in addition to Ensemble Allegria, he has a star-studded team consisting of Tord Gustavsen on grand piano, Arve Henriksen on trumpet and Dovregubben's daughter herself - Den Grønnkledde from Peer Gynt at Gålå - actor and artist Ameli Isungset Agbota. Last but not least, the heather will be filled with little dancing goblins from Loftet Dansestudio choreographed by Juliane Bay!

- I always seek to bring together people who are inspired by each other and who are looking for challenges together at a top professional level. We have really succeeded in that here!, says Ellen Horn. She will also be a presenter at the concert.

Text from Peergynt.no

Sonoko Miriam Welde is among our foremost young violinists: From when she was a soloist with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra as a nine-year-old, via both the Norwegian Soloist Prize, the Virtuoso Competition and the Equinor Scholarship to today's artistic career with solo assignments all over the world, international recognition with the string quartet Opus13 and the role of artistic director for the Winter Festival in Bergstaden on Røros.

We are looking forward to playing together with Sonoko Miriam as soloist and guest conductor when we invite you to the last NÅ concert of the season at Sentralen in Oslo in April.

Program:

Rebecca Clarke: Comodo et amabile

Edvard Grieg: String Quartet in F major, arr. for string orchestra by Alf Årdal

Dmitri Sjostakovitsj: Violin Sonata, version for solo violin, strings and percussion

Welcome!

Artists

Ensemble Allegria
The Norwegian Soloists’ Choir
Grete Pedersen, conductor

New Requiem by Tyler Futrell performed by Allegria and The Norwegian Soloists’ Choir

The church music festival has rarely experienced so much positive, overwhelming and heartfelt feedback as after the premiere of Tyler Futrell's Stabat mater in 2022. Futrell's ability to combine aesthetics and realism, to create something that is intellectually exciting, but above all speaks directly to people's hearts , is unique. We therefore wanted to commission a requiem by Futrell, to be premiered by Ensemble Allegria and the Solist Choir, under the direction of Grete Pedersen. Futrell wanted to use the traditional requiem texts, as well as a number of more modern texts, especially poems by Rolf Jacobsen that were written after he lost his wife. The lyrics deal with death, our relationship with it and what it represents in our lives. Futrell says of his own Requiem:

"I wanted to write a requiem from a humanist perspective, a requiem that speaks to those of us who are left, that reflects the unresolved feelings of loss that many of us carry and try to process. We grieve, we miss, sometimes we're even angry that we've been abandoned, or angry at ourselves for what we didn't do when we still had the opportunity. I use parts of the traditional Latin text and the thematic structure, but at the same time shape it to reflect a grieving process, and mix in various other texts in different languages ​​from different times, to reflect the swirling cloud of ideas around death that we have to deal with. I use these texts to put the audience in more immediate contact with their experiences, something that perhaps thousand-year-old Latin texts about eternal light fail to do - even though that is one of the images that the play has to deal with. Rest is an English translation of requiem (rest), which is what a requiem traditionally asks for on behalf of those who have died, but which is also something the mourners themselves need. In addition, the title can refer to what remains: memories, remains.”

At the concert, the Soloist Choir and Ensemble Allegria will also perform Spem in alium and If ye love me by Thomas Tallis, Tallis Variations by Vaughan Williams and Misericordia Domini, KV 222 by W.A. Mozart.

We are very excited about our first collaboration with the marvellous Swedish violinist Malin Broman, who will be the soloist and guest leader for our first concert in Oslo in 2024.

Malin will play the violin concerto ‘Im Freien’ by swedish composer Britta Byström, in what will be the Norwegian Premiere for this piece.

We also look forward to explore the music of Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara and Johannes Brahms together with Malin.

Program

Britta Byström: Im Freien - Violin concerto (Norwegian premiere)

Einojuhani Rautavaara:  Adagio Celeste

Johannes Brahms: Quintet no. 2 op. 111 (version for string orchestra)

Tickets

Will be released for sale soon!

Malin Broman

Malin Broman is a violinist much in demand as a soloist, artistic director, chamber musician, teacher and orchestral leader.

Since 2008, Malin is Concert Master of the Swedish Radio Orchestra, and she is a very popular guest leader. She has been performing as such with orchestras like London Symphony Orchestra, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra og Chamber Orchestra Orkester i Europa, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Scottish Ensemble, Nordic Chamber Orchestra, Västerås Sinfonietta, Trondheim Soloists, Lapland Chamber Orchestra og ACO Collective (Australia).

In the years 2015-2020 Malin was artistic leader of Musica Vitae Chamber Orchestra, and from 2019 she is also artistic leader of the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra in Finland.

Malin also holds an impressive soloist’s career, with highlights such as performing with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Copenhagen Phil, BBC Scottish Symphony, Academy of St. Martin-in-the Fields and the Swedish Radio Orchestra. She works with conductors like Neeme Järvi, Andrew Manze and Daniel Harding

It is with great excitement we announce that Ensemble Allegria will be visiting Cartagena Music Festival, Colombia in January 2024. With a total of six main concerts in beatiful venues in the historic city of Cartagena, we will bring the music of Grieg, Sibelius, Svendsen, Nielsen and other nordic composers to the shores of the Caribbean ocean. Together with violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing, mezzosoprano Marianne Beate Kielland and pianist Olli Mustonen, we represent the nordic musical community in one of Latin-America’s biggest classical music festivals.

THE VIOLIN: THE VOICE OF SIBELIUS

Adolfo Meija Theatre - Cartagena, Colombia

Sibelius, with his Humoresque Op. 87 and Op. 89 was faced with the need to reconcile two factors that were difficult to reconcile; on the one hand, the long and illustrious tradition of the Romanticism, in which virtuosity had to find its proper space; on the other, his personal compositional style, in which the idea of neo-primitivism, of sobriety and depth of thought, reflected a claim of cultural identity for Finland. However, the Sibelius Humoresque moves in a substantial balance between these two components, with thematic material of an unmistakably Sibeliusian Nordic atmosphere and with a very demanding violin writing, which establishes a relationship of intimate solidarity with the orchestral team.

ARTISTS

Nikita Boriso-Glebsky, violin

Ingar Bergby, conductor

Ensemble Allegria

Program

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, "Winter"

Kurt Atterberg (1887-1974)
Intermezzo for String Orchestra

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major, K. 525 “Eine Kleine Nacht Musik”

—INTERMISSION—

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Andante festivo, Op. 117a
Suite Champetre, op. 98b
Humoresques, op. 87
Humoresques, op. 89

Cartagena Music Festival theme 2024 - Symphony of nature

Myths, landscapes, national identity and modernity in the music of Northern Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries

The choosing of the theme of this edition of the Festival, Symphony of the Nature, pretends to highlight through its programming the main elements of the important musical phenomenon that developed in some countries of northern Europe and that had a huge cultural, social and political transcendence in almost every scandinavian country. In those countries, the emergence of nationalist tendencies coincided with the exceptional cultural and musical blooming that produced pieces of absolute value, master works extremely important in the history of western music. 

The programming nodal point is the Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Finland’s music of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. It will constitute the thread that will help us to capture the affirmation of national characteristics in the production of many important composers, such as Edvard Grieg (Norway), Franz Berwald (Sweden), Carl Nielsen (Denmark), Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnson (Iceland); Jean Sibelius (Finland), among others.

It is with great excitement we announce that Ensemble Allegria will be visiting Cartagena Music Festival, Colombia in January 2024. With a total of six main concerts in beatiful venues in the historic city of Cartagena, we will bring the music of Grieg, Sibelius, Svendsen, Nielsen and other nordic composers to the shores of the Caribbean ocean. Together with violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing, mezzosoprano Marianne Beate Kielland and pianist Olli Mustonen, we represent the nordic musical community in one of Latin-America’s biggest classical music festivals.

IMAGINING NATURE WITH SOUND

Adolfo Meija Theatre - Cartagena, Colombia

Many pieces in the history of music have nature as a referent. Symphonies, symphonic poems, woodland scenes, concertos, sonatas. More than describing nature, music helps to imagine it, to perceive its immanent, mysterious essence. The third movement of Gioacchino Rossini’s String Sonata No. 6 is named “The Storm” as one important reference of this relationship. But the Nordic authors also wanted to capture the majesty of their nature and their homeland. This is the case of the symphonic poem Finlandia by Jean Sibelius.

ARTISTS

Peter Jablonski, piano

Ingar Bergby, conductor

Ensemble Allegria

Program

Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868)
String Sonata No. 6 - 3. Tempesta (Allegro)

Grüner-Hegge (1899-1973)
Elegiac Melody for strings

Wojciech Kilar (1932-2013)
Orawa

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
String symphony no. 2 in D major

—INTERMISSION—

Uuno Klami ( 1900 – 1960)   
Four Finnish Songs for piano and strings. Op 12

Oscar Merikanto (1868 -1924)
Romance Op.12 ( arr. for string Orchestra) 

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Valse triste Op. 44
Finlandia, Op. 26

Cartagena Music Festival theme 2024 - Symphony of nature

Myths, landscapes, national identity and modernity in the music of Northern Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries

The choosing of the theme of this edition of the Festival, Symphony of the Nature, pretends to highlight through its programming the main elements of the important musical phenomenon that developed in some countries of northern Europe and that had a huge cultural, social and political transcendence in almost every scandinavian country. In those countries, the emergence of nationalist tendencies coincided with the exceptional cultural and musical blooming that produced pieces of absolute value, master works extremely important in the history of western music. 

The programming nodal point is the Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Finland’s music of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. It will constitute the thread that will help us to capture the affirmation of national characteristics in the production of many important composers, such as Edvard Grieg (Norway), Franz Berwald (Sweden), Carl Nielsen (Denmark), Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnson (Iceland); Jean Sibelius (Finland), among others.

It is with great excitement we announce that Ensemble Allegria will be visiting Cartagena Music Festival, Colombia in January 2024. With a total of six main concerts in beatiful venues in the historic city of Cartagena, we will bring the music of Grieg, Sibelius, Svendsen, Nielsen and other nordic composers to the shores of the Caribbean ocean. Together with violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing, mezzosoprano Marianne Beate Kielland and pianist Olli Mustonen, we represent the nordic musical community in one of Latin-America’s biggest classical music festivals.

THE SOUND OF NATURE: BAROQUE, CLASSICAL AND MODERN

Capilla del Hotel Sofitel Santa Clara - Cartagena, Colombia

Images of nature approached in different musical styles: Italian baroque, Viennese classical style and 19th century Northern European style. They are variations on the same theme: nature.

ARTISTS

Marianne Beate Kielland, mezzo soprano

Nikita Boriso-Glebsky, violin

Ensemble Allegria

PROGRAM

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)  
Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 293, "Autumn"

Gustaf Nordqvist (1886-1949)
Jul, jul, strålande jul

Johann Strauss II (1825-1899)
The Blue Danube

—INTERMISSION—

Niels W. Gade (1817-1890)
Novelletter for strings, op. 53

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Arioso, op. 3

Carl Nielsen (1865-1931)
Little suite for string orchestra, Op. 1

Cartagena Music Festival theme 2024 - Symphony of nature

Myths, landscapes, national identity and modernity in the music of Northern Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries

The choosing of the theme of this edition of the Festival, Symphony of the Nature, pretends to highlight through its programming the main elements of the important musical phenomenon that developed in some countries of northern Europe and that had a huge cultural, social and political transcendence in almost every scandinavian country. In those countries, the emergence of nationalist tendencies coincided with the exceptional cultural and musical blooming that produced pieces of absolute value, master works extremely important in the history of western music. 

The programming nodal point is the Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Finland’s music of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. It will constitute the thread that will help us to capture the affirmation of national characteristics in the production of many important composers, such as Edvard Grieg (Norway), Franz Berwald (Sweden), Carl Nielsen (Denmark), Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnson (Iceland); Jean Sibelius (Finland), among others.

It is with great excitement we announce that Ensemble Allegria will be visiting Cartagena Music Festival, Colombia in January 2024. With a total of six main concerts in beatiful venues in the historic city of Cartagena, we will bring the music of Grieg, Sibelius, Svendsen, Nielsen and other nordic composers to the shores of the Caribbean ocean. Together with violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing, mezzosoprano Marianne Beate Kielland and pianist Olli Mustonen, we represent the nordic musical community in one of Latin-America’s biggest classical music festivals.

HOLBERG: AN ALMOST NEO-CLASSICAL SUITE

Adolfo Meija Theatre - Cartagena, Colombia

Grieg contributed significantly to the recognition and dissemination of Norwegian folk music in Europe. In his music, the composer managed to express the most intimate feelings with freshness of images and naturalness of harmonic language. This sense almost predicted, at times, certain modern musical solutions and tendencies, especially impressionistic and neoclassical. In the case of the Holberg Suite in which the neoclassical tendency is evident.

ARTISTS

Eldbjørg Hemsing, violin

Santiago Cañón Valencia, cello

Ingar Bergby, conductor

Ensemble Allegria

Program

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, "Summer"

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major, Hob. VIIb/1

—INTERMISSION—

Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)   
Holberg Suite, op. 40

Johan Svendsen (1840-1911)
Norwegian Rhapsody No.1, Op.17

Cartagena Music Festival theme 2024 - Symphony of nature

Myths, landscapes, national identity and modernity in the music of Northern Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries

The choosing of the theme of this edition of the Festival, Symphony of the Nature, pretends to highlight through its programming the main elements of the important musical phenomenon that developed in some countries of northern Europe and that had a huge cultural, social and political transcendence in almost every scandinavian country. In those countries, the emergence of nationalist tendencies coincided with the exceptional cultural and musical blooming that produced pieces of absolute value, master works extremely important in the history of western music. 

The programming nodal point is the Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Finland’s music of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. It will constitute the thread that will help us to capture the affirmation of national characteristics in the production of many important composers, such as Edvard Grieg (Norway), Franz Berwald (Sweden), Carl Nielsen (Denmark), Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnson (Iceland); Jean Sibelius (Finland), among others.

It is with great excitement we announce that Ensemble Allegria will be visiting Cartagena Music Festival, Colombia in January 2024. With a total of six main concerts in beatiful venues in the historic city of Cartagena, we will bring the music of Grieg, Sibelius, Svendsen, Nielsen and other nordic composers to the shores of the Caribbean ocean. Together with violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing, mezzosoprano Marianne Beate Kielland and pianist Olli Mustonen, we represent the nordic musical community in one of Latin-America’s biggest classical music festivals.

GRIEG’S MUSIC: BETWEEN LATE ROMANTICISM AND MODERNITY

Adolfo Meija Theatre - Cartagena, Colombia

ARTISTS

Eldbjørg Hemsing, violin

Maria Angelika Carlsen, violin

Marianne Beate Kielland, mezzo soprano

Ingar Bergby, conductor

Ensemble Allegria

Program

Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
Peer Gynt Suite no. 1, Op. 46
Peer Gynt Suite no. 2, op. 55
Solveig’s Song from the Peer Gynt Suite no. 2, op. 55

—INTERMISSION—

Hjalmar Borgstrøm (1864-1925)
Violin Concerto in G Major, Op. 25 - Allegro Moderato

Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
Norwegian Dances, Op. 35 No. 2

Johan Svendsen (1840-1911)
Romanza for violin and string orchestra, Op. 26

Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)   
Norwegian Dances, Op. 35 no. 3
Two nordic melodies for string orchestra, Op. 63 (Selection)
Norwegian Dances, Op. 35 no.1

Cartagena Music Festival theme 2024 - Symphony of nature

Myths, landscapes, national identity and modernity in the music of Northern Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries

The choosing of the theme of this edition of the Festival, Symphony of the Nature, pretends to highlight through its programming the main elements of the important musical phenomenon that developed in some countries of northern Europe and that had a huge cultural, social and political transcendence in almost every scandinavian country. In those countries, the emergence of nationalist tendencies coincided with the exceptional cultural and musical blooming that produced pieces of absolute value, master works extremely important in the history of western music. 

The programming nodal point is the Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Finland’s music of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. It will constitute the thread that will help us to capture the affirmation of national characteristics in the production of many important composers, such as Edvard Grieg (Norway), Franz Berwald (Sweden), Carl Nielsen (Denmark), Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnson (Iceland); Jean Sibelius (Finland), among others.

It is with great excitement we announce that Ensemble Allegria will be visiting Cartagena Music Festival, Colombia in January 2024. With a total of six main concerts in beatiful venues in the historic city of Cartagena, we will bring the music of Grieg, Sibelius, Svendsen, Nielsen and other nordic composers to the shores of the Caribbean ocean. Together with violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing, mezzosoprano Marianne Beate Kielland and pianist Olli Mustonen, we represent the nordic musical community in one of Latin-America’s biggest classical music festivals.

OPENING CONCERT 2024 : NATURAL COLORS OF MUSIC

Adolfo Meija Theatre - Cartagena, Colombia

ARTISTS

Eldbjørg Hemsing, violin

Olli Mustonen, piano

Ingar Bergby, conductor

Ensemble Allegria

Program

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) | Italy
Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV 269, "Spring"

Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) | Denmark
Bøhmisk-dansk Folketone, paraphrase for string orchestra

Lars-Erik Larsson (1908-1986) | Sweden
Little Serenade for string orchestra Op. 12

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) | Finland
Suite for Violin and Strings in D Minor, Op. 117

— INTERMISSION —

Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) | Norway
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16

Cartagena Music Festival theme 2024 - Symphony of nature

Myths, landscapes, national identity and modernity in the music of Northern Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries

The choosing of the theme of this edition of the Festival, Symphony of the Nature, pretends to highlight through its programming the main elements of the important musical phenomenon that developed in some countries of northern Europe and that had a huge cultural, social and political transcendence in almost every scandinavian country. In those countries, the emergence of nationalist tendencies coincided with the exceptional cultural and musical blooming that produced pieces of absolute value, master works extremely important in the history of western music. 

The programming nodal point is the Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Finland’s music of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. It will constitute the thread that will help us to capture the affirmation of national characteristics in the production of many important composers, such as Edvard Grieg (Norway), Franz Berwald (Sweden), Carl Nielsen (Denmark), Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnson (Iceland); Jean Sibelius (Finland), among others.

Ensemble Allegria are proud to participate in the magical Christmas concert for OBOS at the Opera house in Oslo, together with soloists and choirs from the Norwegian Opera.

There will be four performances on December 10th and 17th.

This Opera Gala is exclusively for OBOS’ members, and allows every member to buy up to four tickets each. Tickets are sold by OBOS:

Ensemble Allegria are proud to participate in the magical Christmas concert for OBOS at the Opera house in Oslo, together with soloists and choirs from the Norwegian Opera.

There will be four performances on December 10th and 17th.

This Opera Gala is exclusively for OBOS’ members, and allows every member to buy up to four tickets each. Tickets are sold by OBOS:

Ensemble Allegria are proud to participate in the magical Christmas concert for OBOS at the Opera house in Oslo, together with soloists and choirs from the Norwegian Opera.

There will be four performances on December 10th and 17th.

This Opera Gala is exclusively for OBOS’ members, and allows every member to buy up to four tickets each. Tickets are sold by OBOS:

Ensemble Allegria are proud to participate in the magical Christmas concert for OBOS at the Opera house in Oslo, together with soloists and choirs from the Norwegian Opera.

There will be four performances on December 10th and 17th.

This Opera Gala is exclusively for OBOS’ members, and allows every member to buy up to four tickets each. Tickets are sold by OBOS:

Three weeks before Christmas, The Norwegian Soloists' Choir sets out on its Christmas tour, which has become a cherished tradition for many. This year's Christmas concerts are topped off with outstanding musicians in Ensemble Allegria and fiddle player Gjermund Larsen!

Together they will perform highlights from the choir's critically acclaimed Christmas records Rós and Veni – Songs of Christmas. Norwegian folk tunes are intertwined with well-known Christmas melodies, which are performed in a way that innovates and makes the familiar fresh!

In addition to being a virtuoso fiddler, Gjermund Larsen is an outstanding composer, and several of his pieces and arrangements will be performed at this year's Christmas concert.

The Norwegian Soloists' Choir and Ensemble Allegria have worked closely together for many years and shaped a distinctive sound and interplay that simply has to be experienced! They have been awarded the Spellemannprisen, the Critics' Prize and the high-hanging Diapason D'Or for their collaborations.

The concerts are led by Grete Pedersen, the Soloist Choir’s artistic director and conductor for over 30 years.

Concerts

04.12 - Lillehammer Church - 19.00

05.12 - Jeløya Church (Moss) - 19.00

06.12 - Sandefjord Church - 19.00

07.12 - Holmlia Church (Oslo) - 19.00

8.12 - Universitetets Aula (Oslo) 18.00 - sold out!

8.12 - Universitetets Aula (Oslo) 20.30 - Extra concert!

Three weeks before Christmas, The Norwegian Soloists' Choir sets out on its Christmas tour, which has become a cherished tradition for many. This year's Christmas concerts are topped off with outstanding musicians in Ensemble Allegria and fiddle player Gjermund Larsen!

Together they will perform highlights from the choir's critically acclaimed Christmas records Rós and Veni – Songs of Christmas. Norwegian folk tunes are intertwined with well-known Christmas melodies, which are performed in a way that innovates and makes the familiar fresh!

In addition to being a virtuoso fiddler, Gjermund Larsen is an outstanding composer, and several of his pieces and arrangements will be performed at this year's Christmas concert.

The Norwegian Soloists' Choir and Ensemble Allegria have worked closely together for many years and shaped a distinctive sound and interplay that simply has to be experienced! They have been awarded the Spellemannprisen, the Critics' Prize and the high-hanging Diapason D'Or for their collaborations.

The concerts are led by Grete Pedersen, the Soloist Choir’s artistic director and conductor for over 30 years.

Concerts

04.12 - Lillehammer Church - 19.00

05.12 - Jeløya Church (Moss) - 19.00

06.12 - Sandefjord Church - 19.00

07.12 - Holmlia Church (Oslo) - 19.00

8.12 - Universitetets Aula (Oslo) 18.00 - sold out!

8.12 - Universitetets Aula (Oslo) 20.30 - Extra concert!

Three weeks before Christmas, The Norwegian Soloists' Choir sets out on its Christmas tour, which has become a cherished tradition for many. This year's Christmas concerts are topped off with outstanding musicians in Ensemble Allegria and fiddle player Gjermund Larsen!

Together they will perform highlights from the choir's critically acclaimed Christmas records Rós and Veni – Songs of Christmas. Norwegian folk tunes are intertwined with well-known Christmas melodies, which are performed in a way that innovates and makes the familiar fresh!

In addition to being a virtuoso fiddler, Gjermund Larsen is an outstanding composer, and several of his pieces and arrangements will be performed at this year's Christmas concert.

The Norwegian Soloists' Choir and Ensemble Allegria have worked closely together for many years and shaped a distinctive sound and interplay that simply has to be experienced! They have been awarded the Spellemannprisen, the Critics' Prize and the high-hanging Diapason D'Or for their collaborations.

The concerts are led by Grete Pedersen, the Soloist Choir’s artistic director and conductor for over 30 years.

Concerts

04.12 - Lillehammer Church - 19.00

05.12 - Jeløya Church (Moss) - 19.00

06.12 - Sandefjord Church - 19.00

07.12 - Holmlia Church (Oslo) - 19.00

8.12 - Universitetets Aula (Oslo) 18.00 - sold out!

8.12 - Universitetets Aula (Oslo) 20.30 - Extra concert!

Three weeks before Christmas, The Norwegian Soloists' Choir sets out on its Christmas tour, which has become a cherished tradition for many. This year's Christmas concerts are topped off with outstanding musicians in Ensemble Allegria and fiddle player Gjermund Larsen!

Together they will perform highlights from the choir's critically acclaimed Christmas records Rós and Veni – Songs of Christmas. Norwegian folk tunes are intertwined with well-known Christmas melodies, which are performed in a way that innovates and makes the familiar fresh!

In addition to being a virtuoso fiddler, Gjermund Larsen is an outstanding composer, and several of his pieces and arrangements will be performed at this year's Christmas concert.

The Norwegian Soloists' Choir and Ensemble Allegria have worked closely together for many years and shaped a distinctive sound and interplay that simply has to be experienced! They have been awarded the Spellemannprisen, the Critics' Prize and the high-hanging Diapason D'Or for their collaborations.

The concerts are led by Grete Pedersen, the Soloist Choir’s artistic director and conductor for over 30 years.

Concerts

04.12 - Lillehammer Church - 19.00

05.12 - Jeløya Church (Moss) - 19.00

06.12 - Sandefjord Church - 19.00

07.12 - Holmlia Church (Oslo) - 19.00

8.12 - Universitetets Aula (Oslo) 18.00 - sold out!

8.12 - Universitetets Aula (Oslo) 20.30 - Extra concert!

Three weeks before Christmas, The Norwegian Soloists' Choir sets out on its Christmas tour, which has become a cherished tradition for many. This year's Christmas concerts are topped off with outstanding musicians in Ensemble Allegria and fiddle player Gjermund Larsen!

Together they will perform highlights from the choir's critically acclaimed Christmas records Rós and Veni – Songs of Christmas. Norwegian folk tunes are intertwined with well-known Christmas melodies, which are performed in a way that innovates and makes the familiar fresh!

In addition to being a virtuoso fiddler, Gjermund Larsen is an outstanding composer, and several of his pieces and arrangements will be performed at this year's Christmas concert.

The Norwegian Soloists' Choir and Ensemble Allegria have worked closely together for many years and shaped a distinctive sound and interplay that simply has to be experienced! They have been awarded the Spellemannprisen, the Critics' Prize and the high-hanging Diapason D'Or for their collaborations.

The concerts are led by Grete Pedersen, the Soloist Choir’s artistic director and conductor for over 30 years.

Concerts

04.12 - Lillehammer Church - 19.00

05.12 - Jeløya Church (Moss) - 19.00

06.12 - Sandefjord Church - 19.00

07.12 - Holmlia Church (Oslo) - 19.00

8.12 - Universitetets Aula (Oslo) 18.00 - sold out!

8.12 - Universitetets Aula (Oslo) 20.30 - Extra concert!

Three weeks before Christmas, The Norwegian Soloists' Choir sets out on its Christmas tour, which has become a cherished tradition for many. This year's Christmas concerts are topped off with outstanding musicians in Ensemble Allegria and fiddle player Gjermund Larsen!

Together they will perform highlights from the choir's critically acclaimed Christmas records Rós and Veni – Songs of Christmas. Norwegian folk tunes are intertwined with well-known Christmas melodies, which are performed in a way that innovates and makes the familiar fresh!

In addition to being a virtuoso fiddler, Gjermund Larsen is an outstanding composer, and several of his pieces and arrangements will be performed at this year's Christmas concert.

The Norwegian Soloists' Choir and Ensemble Allegria have worked closely together for many years and shaped a distinctive sound and interplay that simply has to be experienced! They have been awarded the Spellemannprisen, the Critics' Prize and the high-hanging Diapason D'Or for their collaborations.

The concerts are led by Grete Pedersen, the Soloist Choir’s artistic director and conductor for over 30 years.

Concerts

04.12 - Lillehammer Church - 19.00

05.12 - Jeløya Church (Moss) - 19.00

06.12 - Sandefjord Church - 19.00

07.12 - Holmlia Church (Oslo) - 19.00

8.12 - Universitetets Aula (Oslo) 18.00 - sold out!

8.12 - Universitetets Aula (Oslo) 20.30 - Extra concert!

Two of Norway’s finest ensembles; Ensemble Allegria and Oslo Kammerakademi unite in a superb orchestral collaboration, performing Mendelssohn’s 4th symphony in November.

The wind ensemble Oslo Kammerakademi and the string orchestra Ensemble Allegria have both specialized in playing without conductors for years. Their outstanding artistic leaders, oboist David Friedemann Strunck and violinist Maria Angelika Carlsen enable their fellow musicians to play chamber music in a grand format: They create an environment where every single musician is really important, like participants in a great conversation, shifting between leading and following each other.

The two ensembles started their journey together in 2021, performing Brahms’ magnificent Serenade no. 1. This year, they dive into another master piece: Felix Mendelssohn’s fourth symphony in A major, also known as ‘the italian’. It is among Mendelssohn’s most popular pieces, and he started composing this when he was on a trip to Italia. From his letter home to his father, we can clearly see his excitement, which is very much present in this vital piece of music:

This is Italy! And now has begun what I have always thought ... to be the supreme joy in life. And I am loving it. Today was so rich that now, in the evening, I must collect myself a little, and so I am writing to you to thank you, dear parents, for having given me all this happiness.

In February he wrote from Rome to his sister Fanny:

The Italian symphony is making great progress. It will be the jolliest piece I have ever done, especially the last movement.

American composer Caroline Shaw (b. 1982) wrote her piece Entr’ Acte after hearing Joseph Haydn’s string quartet Op. 77 no. 2. She was so mezmerised by the transtition from the menuet to the trio that she wrote a whole piece based on that specific moment. This piece will be performed in a version for string orchestra by Ensemble Allegria.

In the Oslo concert, november 19th, Oslo Kammerakademi will give the first perfomance of the brand new piece ‘Errante’ by Henrik Hellstenius. This piece is heavily inspired by Richard Strauss’ ‘Metamorphosen’

Program

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Rondino i Ess-dur (only November 18th)

Henrik Hellstenius (f. 1963): Errante (2023) for wind octet and double bass (world premiere november 19th)

Caroline Shaw (f. 1982): Entr'acte (2011) for strykeorkester
Felix Mendelssohn (1809—1847): Symfoni nr. 4, op. 90 i A-dur "Den italienske"

Tickets 18.11

Tickets will be sold by the entrance of Ski nye kirke.

NOK 200, children under 16: free entrance

Tickets 19.11

Two of Norway’s finest ensembles; Ensemble Allegria and Oslo Kammerakademi unite in a superb orchestral collaboration, performing Mendelssohn’s 4th symphony in November.

The wind ensemble Oslo Kammerakademi and the string orchestra Ensemble Allegria have both specialized in playing without conductors for years. Their outstanding artistic leaders, oboist David Friedemann Strunck and violinist Maria Angelika Carlsen enable their fellow musicians to play chamber music in a grand format: They create an environment where every single musician is really important, like participants in a great conversation, shifting between leading and following each other.

The two ensembles started their journey together in 2021, performing Brahms’ magnificent Serenade no. 1. This year, they dive into another master piece: Felix Mendelssohn’s fourth symphony in A major, also known as ‘the italian’. It is among Mendelssohn’s most popular pieces, and he started composing this when he was on a trip to Italia. From his letter home to his father, we can clearly see his excitement, which is very much present in this vital piece of music:

This is Italy! And now has begun what I have always thought ... to be the supreme joy in life. And I am loving it. Today was so rich that now, in the evening, I must collect myself a little, and so I am writing to you to thank you, dear parents, for having given me all this happiness.

In February he wrote from Rome to his sister Fanny:

The Italian symphony is making great progress. It will be the jolliest piece I have ever done, especially the last movement.

American composer Caroline Shaw (b. 1982) wrote her piece Entr’ Acte after hearing Joseph Haydn’s string quartet Op. 77 no. 2. She was so mezmerised by the transtition from the menuet to the trio that she wrote a whole piece based on that specific moment. This piece will be performed in a version for string orchestra by Ensemble Allegria.

In the Oslo concert, november 19th, Oslo Kammerakademi will give the first perfomance of the brand new piece ‘Errante’ by Henrik Hellstenius. This piece is heavily inspired by Richard Strauss’ ‘Metamorphosen’

Program

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Rondino i Ess-dur (only November 18th)

Henrik Hellstenius (f. 1963): Errante (2023) for wind octet and double bass (world premiere november 19th)

Caroline Shaw (f. 1982): Entr'acte (2011) for strykeorkester
Felix Mendelssohn (1809—1847): Symfoni nr. 4, op. 90 i A-dur "Den italienske"

Tickets 18.11

Tickets will be sold by the entrance of Ski nye kirke.

NOK 200, children under 16: free entrance

Tickets 19.11

NO/EN

August 12th you can hear Ensemble Allegria in a unique concert at the foot of Rondane on Kvamsfjellet. The internationally renowned percussionist and cymbalist Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen is soloist and musical director and with him on stage, in addition to Ensemble Allegria, he has a star-studded team consisting of Tord Gustavsen on grand piano, Arve Henriksen on trumpet and Dovregubben's daughter herself - Den Grønnkledde from Peer Gynt at Gålå - actor and artist Ameli Isungset Agbota. Last but not least, the heather will be filled with little dancing goblins from Loftet Dansestudio choreographed by Juliane Bay!

- I always seek to bring together people who are inspired by each other and who are looking for challenges together at a top professional level. We have really succeeded in that here!, says Ellen Horn. She will also be a presenter at the concert.

Text from Peergynt.no