Thursday 02 September 2021

02 and 03 September, 19.30, Grieghallen.

The best artists think differently. The opening concert contains major statements from composers that prove it. In John Adams's 1918 masterpiece Harmonium, Adams explored a new way of writing – slowing the rate of harmonic change so that each key change resembled a 'heavenly gear shift'. The result is an epic piece, with poems by John Donne and Emily Dickinson, that seems to float over vast stretches of imaginary terrain.
In her orchestral piece Bioluminescence, Kristine Tjøgersen transfers the rhythmic behavior of light-emitting firefly species to music. Her orchestra recreates the patterns and figures of these tiny creatures and the bioluminescent signals they emit. Meanwhile, LED lights do the same – creating an ever-changing tapestry of timbres for ears and eyes. Carl Nielsen's violin concerto would have felt no less imaginative when performed in 2011. Award-winning violinist Johan Dalene joins the orchestra and Edward Gardner for a concert that unites rural and urban in an exciting dance.

Edward Gardner, conductor
Johan Dalene, violin
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Edvard Grieg Choir
Bergen Philharmonic Choir
Håkon Matti Skrede, choir master

Kristine Tjøgersen – Bioluminescence for orchestra and LED lights
Carl Nielsen – Violin Concerto
(break)
John Adams - Harmonium

Kristine Tjøgersen – Bioluminescence
Carl Nielsen – Violin Concerto
John Adams - Harmonium

(Due to a strike in the cultural sector from 3 September, this evening's concert will unfortunately have to be cancelled)