Requiem by Torbjørn Dyrud

A concert about life, death, light and love. Performed in Oslo, at Lena in Østre Toten and in Drammen in November 2026. Requiem is Torbjørn Dyrud's last work. The work is for choir, narrator, string trio and wind trio, and is a commission from Oslo and Bergen Domkor. Between the movements, texts from near-death experiences are read. The work receives its premiere simultaneously in Oslo and Bergen cathedrals on 1 November 2026, in addition to concerts in Hoff kirke (Østre Toten) on 14 November at 18.00 and Bragernes kirke (Drammen) on 15 November at 19.00. The composer and musician Torbjørn Dyrud lived with a serious cancer diagnosis for nine years, and he died on 19 July this year, shortly after delivering the work to us. In his last years he found much comfort in stories of near-death experiences and similar, incomprehensible experiences. Torbjørn was light of mind, and part of the intention with the work was the wish that we here on earth might perhaps to a greater extent be able to see that the world is in fact filled with light and love. Near-death experiences are stories and experiences that challenge our understanding of reality on a fundamental level. Many of those who have had a near-death experience insist that who we are, at the deepest level, will continue to live even after the body is dead. In the void after Torbjørn's death we bring out again the intention behind the work and read what Torbjørn himself wrote in a new way. "For me as a church musician, this literature has opened my own spiritual life on a fundamental level. It seems more and more credible that stories of a more real reality, outside time and space, a state where unconditional love fills everything, are simply true. Something in me opens up when I read these personal stories in the light of the Bible and other historical sources." Requiem lasts approx. 45 minutes. The concert also programmes three of Torbjørn's other well-known songs and hymns composed for choir. The concert lasts about one hour in total. Torbjørn's bereaved have approved that we write about the concert and about the music he has written Programme Snart kysser hun sin venn i rosenhagen by Torbjørn Dyrud with text by Inger Hagerup Kom livspust by Torbjørn Dyrud with text by Ingrid B. Melve Med en bukett by Torbjørn Dyrud with text by Henrik Wergeland Requiem by Torbjørn Dyrud with text readings from near-death experiences Performers Oslo Domkor Vivianne Sydnes, conductor Eldar Skar, actor Brass players: Tormod Åsgård, Simen Aleksander Olsen Hagen and Lars Brynestad Strings: Sølve Sigerland, Henninge Landaas and Ellen Margrete Flesjø (Ssens Trio) Welcome to a concert about life, death, light and love.

• Eldar Skar
• Tormod Åsgård
• Simen Aleksander Olsen Hagen
• Lars Brynestad
• Vivianne Sydnes

LISTEN TO MUSIC FROM THE CONCERT