Håkonshallen, Håkonshallen
Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 19:30
Friday, May 23, 2025 at 19:30

The 16 professional singers of Edvard Grieg Vocal Ensemble and Valen Vocal Ensemble will provide a unique concert experience where Kirsten Flagstad's legendary voice is brought to life anew. Using cutting-edge technology, which makes it possible to extract a pure vocal voice from old recordings, they perform a cappella accompaniments to her original recordings. This innovative project allows audiences to experience Flagstad's iconic interpretations of composers such as Grieg, Handel, Purcell and Wagner in a new, holistic sound. The soloist in this unconventional concert is none other than Flagstad herself. Stephen Higgins, musical director and initiator together with sound designer Max Pappenheim, describes it as an almost live experience of the great Norwegian soprano, side by side with today's singers. Kirsten Flagstad's (1895-1962) career spanned several continents and decades. She captivated audiences at opera houses such as the Metropolitan, La Scala and Covent Garden, and drew an impressive 200,000 spectators to an outdoor concert in Chicago. Her extensive studio activity resulted in nearly a thousand recordings, and now audiences can once again experience her voice in a modern setting, almost as if she were on stage herself.