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Fjord Classics
18. jun. - 22. jun.
Sandefjord
Over the years Fjord Classics has had many different themes, two of them about nations: «Der er et yndigt land», and in last year's festival: «Britannia». Now it is the turn of our sister nation, and the title is: Tre Kronor.
Norway and Sweden share a great deal of history, though the roles of big and little brother have always been clear.
It marks the national character to this day, and even today's pragmatic, social-democratic Sweden carries within it a whiff of the old great-power days. Where Norway has big farms, Sweden has castles; where we have the odel farmer, Sweden has nobility. Norwegian music history essentially begins with National Romanticism, whereas Sweden has a rich musical heritage from both the baroque and classicism.
The composers have given us Nordic summer-night poetry, but also so much else. In our own day, Swedish top musicians are heard on great stages the world over, and we look forward to presenting several of them at this year's festival in Sandefjord.
Sweden has had legendary singers such as Jussi Björling, Birgit Nilsson and, before them, Jenny Lind, the Swedish Nightingale. It is a living tradition, and this year we are so fortunate as to have the outstanding Swedish baritone David Risberg, who will sing everything from familiar and beloved Bellman songs to arias from Verdi's opera «A Masked Ball», which deals with the murder of the king at the Stockholm opera, a true story.
Furthermore, from Sweden we have perhaps the world's very finest trumpeter, Håkan Hardenberger, who will be heard in many different contexts, including in duo with Stefan Dohr, principal horn of the Berlin Philharmonic.
Jakob Koranyi is a Swedish cellist with an international solo career. Mats Bergström is an outstanding guitarist with great range, from classical to jazz. The violinist Benjamin Schmid from Austria is yet another musician who is as much at home in jazz as in classical. We are not talking about crossover here, which can easily become embarrassing, but musicians who genuinely master «both tongues».
The violinist Kristine Balanas from Latvia also has diverse roots, as a street musician and rock musician. She brings that raw power with her into the classical repertoire as well.
Sweden's national instrument, the nyckelharpa, will be played by the eminent Emilia Amper. And as in the past two years we will have a yoga concert led by Lene Skomedal, who lives in Gothenburg but is originally a true native of Vestfold.
We have two of Scandinavia's foremost pianists with us: Roland Pöntinen and Christian Ihle Hadland. Different personalities, but with in common an unquenchable thirst for the most diverse repertoire. We also have two of Scandinavia's foremost woodwind players with us, the clarinettist Andreas Sundén and the bassoonist Ole Kristian Dahl. Finally we again have our festival orchestra Fjord Festival Strings, seething with young inspiration and talent, this time in collaboration with Telemark Kammerorkester under the direction of violinist and conductor Per Kristian Skalstad.
We welcome you to rich and fulfilling listening experiences in Sandefjord!
Lars Anders Tomter
artistic director
Upcoming concerts
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Past concerts
- 22. Jun 2025Finale – I denna ljuva sommartidSandefjord kirke, Sandefjord
- 22. Jun 2025Ludwig van og Carl JohanSandefjord Kurbad, Sandefjord
- 22. Jun 2025Pop-up konsert nr.5Byparken, Sandefjord
- 22. Jun 2025Breathe Music / YogakonsertHarmonie Arena, Sandefjord
- 21. Jun 2025NachspielSandefjord Kurbad, Sandefjord
- 21. Jun 2025To svenske studenterSandefjord Kurbad, Sandefjord
- 21. Jun 2025Pop-up konsert nr.4Byparken, Sandefjord
- 21. Jun 2025Gode vennerSandefjord Kurbad, Sandefjord
- 20. Jun 2025Both Sides, NowSandefjord Kurbad, Sandefjord
- 20. Jun 2025MidsommarSandefjord kirke, Sandefjord
The 10 most recent of 18 past concerts. Use the date filter to see more.
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