Wednesday 05 October 2022

A celebration of the distinctive and original tone artist Harald Sæverud and his musical universe, as well as a premiere performance by Knut Vaage.

"I hope my music has its future, I myself only have my past". This is how Sæverud answered the question of what would live the longest.

This year it is 125 years since Harald Sæverud was born in Nordnes, and it is 30 years since he died. His music has by no means had its last word in the concert hall.

The harmony was in many ways Sæverud's house orchestra. In his book Harald Sæverud – Mannen, musikken og mytene, Lorentz Reitan writes that the orchestra not only performed all his orchestral pieces, but he also got to conduct, thus acquiring invaluable knowledge about the orchestra.

His Sinfonia dolorosa was first performed during the Second World War, on 27 May 1943, and the composer himself conducted. The symphony, the second of his war symphonies, was Sæverud's reaction to the brutalization that was taking hold more and more in occupied Norway. The work was completed in 1942, the same year that the tragedy in Telavåg took place.

The hymn symphony was his third war symphony, and was composed during the last year of the war. In contrast to the Sinfonia dolorosa, this work is characterized by peace and optimism.

The orchestra's own flautist Ingela Øien is the soloist in a new work by Knut Vaage.

Ingar Bergby, conductor
Ingela Øien, flute
Edvard Grieg Choir
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Harald Sæverud – Fanfare and anthem
Knut Vaage – Janus, for flute and orchestra (first performance)
Harald Sæverud - The giant sage's castle
Harald Sæverud – Symphony No. 6 "Sinfonia Dolorosa"
Harald Sæverud - See soli on Anaripigg
Harald Sæverud – Symphony No. 7 "Hymn"