Welcome to our interview series with musicians from the classical music scene. Today we have the pleasure of presenting Marie Lille Haugen! She is a flutist in the Royal Norwegian Navy Band. She shares her thoughts on classical music and recommends upcoming concerts for both new and experienced concertgoers!
Name, instrument and profession
Marie Lille Haugen, flutist in the Royal Norwegian Navy Band - Marinemusikken
What are you doing at the moment?
Right now I'm preparing the repertoire for the coming weeks in Marinemusikken. In addition, my wind quintet is preparing for the semi-finals of the Nordic Wind Competition to be held in Oslo November 10-12 during the Nordic Wind Festival.
Most overrated composer or piece?
That's a very difficult question to answer. In general, we should probably get better at playing even more varied music and not just repeat the same pieces all the time. I generally try to have a fairly open mind about all music, but if I were to name a piece, Ravel's Bolero probably wouldn't be the first one I'd put on.
And at the other end of the spectrum... what music should everyone really get to experience?
Daphnis et Chloé by Maurice Ravel! Coincidentally written by the same composer as the previous question, but I think this is one of the most beautiful works ever written, and where the woodwinds, especially the flautists, really get to shine.
Your last big concert experience - what made it so special?
I was lucky enough to join KORK on a tour to the Czech Republic before the summer, where we played a concert of Arnold Schoenberg's masterpiece "Gurrelieder" at the Czech State Opera in Prague. It was a great experience in many ways - with a total of over 250 people on stage. An orchestra of 135 musicians from KORK and the Czech Radio Orchestra, 5 soloists, an actor and a choir of over 100. It's not something you'd experience every day.
Do you have any advice for "new listeners" who are curious about classical music and don't go to concerts very often?
Go to outdoor concerts, where the program is usually very audience-friendly and easy to listen to for everyone. And listen to the music beforehand so you know what to expect when you get to the concert.
Any upcoming concerts you would recommend?
On November 10, Marinemusikken will play a concert during the Nordic Wind Festival at Ridehuset in Oslo. There we will premiere Wolfgang Plagge's tuba concerto with August Schieldrop as soloist, as well as a new arrangement of Pictures from an Exhibition by Mussorgsky, conducted by Peter Szilvay. If you're in the Vestfold area, we're also playing the same concert in Sandefjord the night before.
Otherwise, I would like to attend as many concerts as possible during the festival, where many different wind ensembles, chamber music groups and soloists will be playing.
Finally, who would you challenge to take over the baton?
Åsmund Moen (percussionist in the Arctic Philharmonic)
Photo: Cecilie Welde
