Welcome to our interview relay featuring musicians from the classical music scene! Today, we’re delighted to present Ida Løvli Hidle. She’s an accordionist and lecturer at the Norwegian Academy of Music. Here she shares her thoughts on classical music and recommends upcoming concerts for both new and experienced concertgoers!
Name, instrument, and occupation?
Ida Løvli Hidle, accordion, freelancer and lecturer at the Norwegian Academy of Music (NMH).
What are you currently working on?
Right now, I’m on maternity leave, while simultaneously teaching accordion one day a week at NMH. I'm also planning several projects for after my leave, but they're still a bit TBA.
Share one thing not many people know about you:
It’s been many years since I listened to music (other than for work, obviously). I prefer complete silence. My husband jokes that I'm a psychopath and can’t take me seriously as a musician. I think it’s because music stimulates me so intensely that complete silence allows me to think clearly and be most creative.
Minister of classical music in Norway for a day—what would you do?
I would permanently protect all national orchestras, shut down at least one music education institution (I believe there are too many, and we’re doing young musicians a disservice by offering too many places in an already challenging career), establish at least five new classical categories in the Spellemannprisen and bring it back to NRK (I realize a minister can’t do that, but I'm choosing to interpret the question as a sort of dictator-minister), create more artist grants (or perhaps introduce universal basic income), include more music in primary schools, and get more classical music (including contemporary music) onto mainstream NRK channels (TV and radio). Again: dictator-minister :)
Your most recent great concert experience—what made it special?
At the risk of sounding self-promotional, I'll mention a concert I played myself. I recently performed Erlend Skomsvoll’s accordion concerto, Clashes, with Trondheimsolistene. It’s an incredibly powerful piece exploring important themes that resonate in a unique way. When I see audience members crying during the performance, I truly feel there’s meaning to what I do. I won’t say more—people should just come to the next concert!
Which living composer inspires you most, and why?
I would’ve said Sofia Gubaidulina here, but unfortunately, she passed away on March 13. Still, I’ll take the liberty of naming her anyway. She inspires me deeply in many ways. She was the most internationally acclaimed composer who contributed significantly to the core repertoire of accordion music. Her compositions have many layers, great depth, and are incredibly well-written for the instrument. I've been fortunate enough to meet her a couple of times—she was someone who's difficult to describe, but I got the sense she was extremely wise, having understood things I could only dream of grasping.
Can you recall one specific event or experience that made you decide to pursue music professionally?
Yes, actually! During high school, I went on a study trip to Mostar in Bosnia (some friendship-city project). My classmates and I created a performance with young people there. The show itself was okay, as far as I remember, but at the time, I had just learned Flashing by Arne Nordheim. We decided to create a photo collage to the music, reflecting our impressions of the place: bullet holes, cats, graveyards, and pictures of children from the orphanage where we stayed. After the concert, a woman came up to me, crying (there we go again, tears—clearly important to me), and said no one had ever described or “put into words” the war that way before. Though Flashing isn't directly about war, the opening resembles an air-raid siren, and I understand how she associated it with war. Later, I learned she had lost her entire family in the conflict. It was the first time I experienced my music having profound significance for someone else. It opened my eyes and inspired me deeply to apply for the music conservatory afterward.
Do you have any role models or anyone who has particularly motivated or inspired you?
Yes! Marit Bjørgen!
Any advice for “new listeners” curious about classical music who don’t often attend concerts?
Hmm...maybe start with something approachable, like an opera pub or something similar? Or just dive right in and buy a festival pass for a chamber music festival and attend every concert there :)
Are there upcoming concerts you’d recommend?
Since I’m on maternity leave, sadly I can't attend or perform concerts right now, but here are three concerts I wish I could go to:
Jeg vil hjem til menneskene (“I Want to Return to the People”) by Susanna Wallumrød at Kloden Theatre. Susanna has an amazing voice and fantastic stage presence, in addition to writing beautiful music. Kloden Theatre is also an exciting new venue in Groruddalen, and more people should check it out. April 8-12.
Ksenija Sidorova at the Opera (Scene 2), April 1.
Pong and Hekate – Hunting High and Low at Riksscenen, March 28.
Since I can't play concerts myself right now (stuck at home with the baby), recommending colleagues’ concerts will have to do :)
Finally—who would you like to challenge to take over the baton next?
Caroline Eidsten Dahl and Maria Angelika Carlsen
Photo: Erika Hebbert
