About

Composer Ole Olsen's (1850-1927) adventurous journey stretches from child prodigy in Hammerfest, where as a 5-year-old he substituted for his father as organist in the church, to his own composer's evening with the Berlin Philharmonic in 1892.

We will illuminate this journey through his four operas , all of which are absent from the common consciousness today. Only one of Olsen's operas, "Lajla", was performed in his time, while "Stallo" was performed in Kristiansund as recently as 2002. On this tour we get music from his first opera, "Marsk Stig", which has never before been performed, and from "Klippeøerne", his last opera. The first two will of course also be mentioned, but with limited musical elements.

It is only when you experience Ole Olsen's operas that you are truly impressed by his work. Many have probably thought that he was only a talent for the small and short forms, but Ole Olsen is so much more than just "Solefaldssang". Contributor Terje Boye Hansen - narrator Astrid Nordstad – mezzo-soprano Trond Halstein Moe – baritone Ingrid Marie Willassen – violin TBA – violin Agnieszka Orlowska – viola Nikolay Girunyan – cello Knut Erik Sundquist – bass Nils Anders Mortensen – piano