"Nordic Impulses” is this year’s signature of the region’s most renowned music –and cultural festival, which was opened in the Grieg Hall on Wednesday 23 May. Bergen’s many stages will for a fortnight (23 May – 5 June) be filled with the world’s foremost artists.
27/05/2007 :: “Bergen International Festival aims to be the most important scene for creative artists in the Nordic and Baltic region”, says the festival director, Per Boye Hansen.
The festival is an arena where the traditional meets the experimental. This year’s program displays a wide range of music belonging to different categories, and the audience will meet some of the world’s renowned musicians. Among the most prominent guests are Grammy Award winners, Paul Hillier and The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (EPCC) and the Welch singer, Bryn Terfel.
Moreover, the internationally acclaimed violin-player, Renaud Capucon, as well as Norway’s own Henning Kraggerud will perform. Among other internationally known Norwegian musicians, are pianist Leif Ove Andsnes and cellist Truls Mørk.
The event is not solely about music, other art forms such as drama, dance, visual arts and literature will be exhibited during the festival. A new play by the Norwegian playwright, Jon Fosse, will be staged every year until 2009. This year’s play, carries the title, “I am the Wind” (”Eg er vinden”).
Bergen International Festival is arranged for the 55. time, and was first launched in 1953. The singer, Fanny Elsta, started the festival inspired by the Norwegian composer, Edward Grieg's "Music Festival in Bergen" of 1898. Like previous years, Grieg is well represented in the festival in his own home town. This year Norway is also commemorating the 100. anniversary for the composer’s death with various Grieg events, both in Norway and abroad.