This year it’s 100 years since the Norwegian composer Edvard Griegs’ death. Professional artists from Selbu, Selbu Teaterforum(a local theatre group) and a local choir wanted to celebrate this by putting on a play at Kalvåa. Kalvåa is an outdoor theatre/ museum in Selbu, Norway.
Inspired by Griegs music, the power of the waterfall in Kalvåa and our own longing, the fairytale “Fossekall” was born. A play about the life of the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg written by Elisabeth Matthesson Solberg (actor/writer/director)
Together with Edvard Griegs music and the poets Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, Henrik Ibsen and Arne Garborg, the waterfall was released in its full power, and set free in to the autumn night. The characters Ole Bull, Edvards wife Nina Grieg and characters such as Per Gynt, Solveig, the mountain maids, *Huldra and *Dovregubben were brought to life. It turned into a magical night for both performers and audience.
To work with Elisabeth Solberg Matthesson was an amazing experience for me. She is a wonderful and warm human being, a great actress and a fantastic director! I have had to face a lot of challenges both on and off the stage this year. To play the part of Nina Grieg has meant a lot to me. We had a short and intense rehearsal period, but we grew into a strong team and I have grown as a performer.
We are now hoping that “Fossekall” can be part of “Festspillene in Bergen” March 2008. This is a festival held each year in Bergen, Norway.
*Huldra= A beautiful woman with a tail, who lures men into the woods and is part of the underworld.
*Dovregubben = a character from Ibsens Peer Gynt. A big Troll king and is the leader of the underworld creatures who live in “Doregubbens hall”.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Drama in Wales
After a 10 hour journey I finally arrived in Cardiff at 11o’clock Tuesday night. I had a warm welcome from some dear friends of mine from the Norwegian Welsh society and after a bowl of hot soup I curled up in a nice warm bed. Heaven! Wednesday, the people at Llandaff Cathedral allowed me to use their music room to do some practice both that day plus Thursday and Friday! Wednesday and Thursday evenings John and I rehearsed. It was a great joy to play through his arrangements of the Grieg songs. The Swan, The water Lilly, and I love you. The songs worked really well for voice and guitar and it was so good to see my dear friend again! Friday morning the drama began in Wales! Snow has invaded Wales! The whole society stopped up. Schools and shops closed, people were advised to stay at home and grownups and children made snowmen and played in the snow with their kids! I am stunned! I couldn’t believe it! At 1 o’clock I got a phone call from John, ”The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama have evacuated all their staff and students because of fire alarms and bad weather. I’m sitting in my car, could we rehearse at your friends house?” I couldn’t believe it! We were supposed to record a demo that day too! What was the fuss all about? I was now starting to fear the worst. Would our concert in Ystrad Mynach be canceled? I made a phone call to the Rhymney Society who had invited us and they said they hoped that the concert it would go ahead as planned, but would let us know in the morning. “It must be 40 years since we had so much snow here in Wales!”
The day of the concert I got up and prepare to go, the trains were running and all the main roads in Cardiff were almost bare.
My phone rang: “Hello its John here. I am so sorry Mai but they’ve canceled the concert because people can’t get out of their houses. Since Ystrad Mynach lies higher than Cardiff there is far much more snow here and all the side roads are very slippery. You could catch the train though and we can rehearse where I am staying in Ystraad Mynach.” I couldn’t believe it we were both in the area, but there was not going to be a concert! Should I laugh or cry? That evening I wanted to be anything but a singer, I was very disappointed. However, there came some good out of this. Rhumney Music Society really wanted us to come back in June to have a concert there and they were willing to arrange two or three concerts in other places in Wales. Alls well that ends well.
The Concert in Christ Church Bristol on the Sunday was a success. We had a really good audience and what a tremendous acoustic! The feedback was very positive too and I left the UK on a buzzing high. What did I learn? Never have a concert in Wales in February! Ha ha. A Drama is never too big to handle especially in the company of true friends. I feel blessed and so lucky to have so many good friends and contacts in different parts of the world and hope that throughout my life I can continue to build these bridges.
The day of the concert I got up and prepare to go, the trains were running and all the main roads in Cardiff were almost bare.
My phone rang: “Hello its John here. I am so sorry Mai but they’ve canceled the concert because people can’t get out of their houses. Since Ystrad Mynach lies higher than Cardiff there is far much more snow here and all the side roads are very slippery. You could catch the train though and we can rehearse where I am staying in Ystraad Mynach.” I couldn’t believe it we were both in the area, but there was not going to be a concert! Should I laugh or cry? That evening I wanted to be anything but a singer, I was very disappointed. However, there came some good out of this. Rhumney Music Society really wanted us to come back in June to have a concert there and they were willing to arrange two or three concerts in other places in Wales. Alls well that ends well.
The Concert in Christ Church Bristol on the Sunday was a success. We had a really good audience and what a tremendous acoustic! The feedback was very positive too and I left the UK on a buzzing high. What did I learn? Never have a concert in Wales in February! Ha ha. A Drama is never too big to handle especially in the company of true friends. I feel blessed and so lucky to have so many good friends and contacts in different parts of the world and hope that throughout my life I can continue to build these bridges.
Friday, January 19, 2007
GRIEG CONCERT
Despite the dry acoustics Knut Erik the pianist and I really enjoyed the concert on Sunday. The venue was perfect and intimate and we had a quality audience.
The Friday before we jumped on a cheap plane down to Oslo and worked on the piece with one of Knut Eriks teachers. Wow what an inspiration! The piece “Haugtussa” continues to develop vocally, dramatically and musically and this is such and exiting time for us both. The song cycle is a huge challenge because it covers a wide specter of emotions from being really low to being playful and happy an emotional roller costar in other words. We are both looking forward to continue our development and future collaborations.
The Friday before we jumped on a cheap plane down to Oslo and worked on the piece with one of Knut Eriks teachers. Wow what an inspiration! The piece “Haugtussa” continues to develop vocally, dramatically and musically and this is such and exiting time for us both. The song cycle is a huge challenge because it covers a wide specter of emotions from being really low to being playful and happy an emotional roller costar in other words. We are both looking forward to continue our development and future collaborations.
Monday, January 01, 2007
DENMARK AND THE IMPORTANCE OF INSPIERING YOUNGSTERS
Yet another adventure has come to an end. I had a fantastic time in Denmark worked a lot on vocal and mental techniques and release of body tensions. I had a lot of challenges,but these challenges has made me grow as a human being and through them I made a lot of good friends. Financially it became very tough having to pay for two lessons and a coaching lesson every week, as well as a three week yoga course, but I made it and I am so proud of my self! I am very tempted to return in 2007 to continue the working process that I started.
I am now temping as a singing teacher in three music schools until the 22nd of January as well as working as a freelance singer in UK, Norway and Holland. It is hard work to teach 60kids each week, but it is a perfect way to get the chance to inspire youngsters to get involved in the performing arts and hopefully they will fall in love with the erforming arts and music in the same way as I have done. The kids also have reminded me of why I do what I do and of the most important things in music: to have fun and to play. My next project abroad is two concerts with the English guitarist John Mills in Wales and England in the beginning of February.All exiting can't wait!
Yet another adventure has come to an end. I had a fantastic time in Denmark worked a lot on vocal and mental techniques and release of body tensions. I had a lot of challenges,but these challenges has made me grow as a human being and through them I made a lot of good friends. Financially it became very tough having to pay for two lessons and a coaching lesson every week, as well as a three week yoga course, but I made it and I am so proud of my self! I am very tempted to return in 2007 to continue the working process that I started.
I am now temping as a singing teacher in three music schools until the 22nd of January as well as working as a freelance singer in UK, Norway and Holland. It is hard work to teach 60kids each week, but it is a perfect way to get the chance to inspire youngsters to get involved in the performing arts and hopefully they will fall in love with the erforming arts and music in the same way as I have done. The kids also have reminded me of why I do what I do and of the most important things in music: to have fun and to play. My next project abroad is two concerts with the English guitarist John Mills in Wales and England in the beginning of February.All exiting can't wait!
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
A WEEKEND TO REMEMBER
It was lovely to be back in Wales again and I received a warm welcome at the house of my two good friends Tony and Carol.
However in connection with the concerts we met a few hitches along the way.
Our first gig was a lunchtime concert in the foyer at the Welsh Millennium Centre on Thursday 3rd of November. The plan was that the programs for the concerts and my concerts dresses were going to be flown over from Norway by my parents on the Thursday. Wednesday night I got a phone call from my parents in Norway. “There is a pending strike in Norwegian airlines, we might not be able to come over, be prepared.” Ahh, I was determined not to panic, I had to focus on our first gig, and fate would decide. I was not really sure how it would be to have a concert in the foyer, but thought of it as a very good experience and it was indeed! Loads of people turned up and sat down on the benches around. The cafés filled up with people who decided to sit down and listen to us too. I was overwhelmed and touched by this, a lovely surprise. Half way through we also received some good news, my mum and dad were on their way!
Our next concert at Insole Court turned out to be a little bit more dramatic than I had expected. The venue was booked and we were all set to rehearse at the venue at 11o’clock the same day. Tony, John and I turned up at the venue ready to start the preparations for the evening event, but to our horror and annoyance we were told by the manager that the venue was closed on Health and safety grounds. Why? We were speechless. Something was going on. John came over to Tony and myself and explained that Cardiff Council had received a message the night before about the closure of the venue. “But, we have a concert here tonight! The tickets are all sold out! What do you expect us to do?” we asked the people from the council.
“Find another venue or cancel it,” they said.
I was shocked. This had to be a joke! No, they were serious, this was no joke. So 8 hours before our concert we were without a concert venue and in danger of having to cancel! I tried to stay calm. Tony, another committee member, John, and myself were determined not to be beaten!
After a prolonged argument we realised that we were making no progress, even when the Deputy Chief Executive and the Health and Safety Inspector were summoned. Thanks to the Cathedral authorities we found a new venue, and were lucky to get somewhere nearby. The Council were persuaded to pay for the transport and tuning of the piano for the new location. The lack of information to the organisers of the concert by Cardiff Council left a lot to be desired and any future dealings with the Council should be undertaken with care. I must admit that the huge bouquets of flowers from the council as an apology for the inconvenience didn’t help matters much.
At 5.30 the piano was tuned, John and his little helpers built a stage, set up a red velvet back drop, lights were rigged and sim sala bim an atmosphere of stage dramatics was created. The concert was a success and people really seemed to enjoy themselves with the good old Gershwin and Weil repertoire and a glass of wine.
Our last concert at Llandaff Catherdral went without any complications and a lovely crowd of 130 people turned up, amongst them were family and some of my dearest friends. It is a fantastic venue and the acoustics where amazing and Taina finally got the chance to play the grand piano!
It certainly turned out to be a weekend I’ll remember, not just because of all the challenges we had to deal with but because of what a fantastic team we made!
Now I am looking forward to the new challenges that lie ahead of me. Denmark, Norway, Cardiff in the New Year and then the Netherlands.
However in connection with the concerts we met a few hitches along the way.
Our first gig was a lunchtime concert in the foyer at the Welsh Millennium Centre on Thursday 3rd of November. The plan was that the programs for the concerts and my concerts dresses were going to be flown over from Norway by my parents on the Thursday. Wednesday night I got a phone call from my parents in Norway. “There is a pending strike in Norwegian airlines, we might not be able to come over, be prepared.” Ahh, I was determined not to panic, I had to focus on our first gig, and fate would decide. I was not really sure how it would be to have a concert in the foyer, but thought of it as a very good experience and it was indeed! Loads of people turned up and sat down on the benches around. The cafés filled up with people who decided to sit down and listen to us too. I was overwhelmed and touched by this, a lovely surprise. Half way through we also received some good news, my mum and dad were on their way!
Our next concert at Insole Court turned out to be a little bit more dramatic than I had expected. The venue was booked and we were all set to rehearse at the venue at 11o’clock the same day. Tony, John and I turned up at the venue ready to start the preparations for the evening event, but to our horror and annoyance we were told by the manager that the venue was closed on Health and safety grounds. Why? We were speechless. Something was going on. John came over to Tony and myself and explained that Cardiff Council had received a message the night before about the closure of the venue. “But, we have a concert here tonight! The tickets are all sold out! What do you expect us to do?” we asked the people from the council.
“Find another venue or cancel it,” they said.
I was shocked. This had to be a joke! No, they were serious, this was no joke. So 8 hours before our concert we were without a concert venue and in danger of having to cancel! I tried to stay calm. Tony, another committee member, John, and myself were determined not to be beaten!
After a prolonged argument we realised that we were making no progress, even when the Deputy Chief Executive and the Health and Safety Inspector were summoned. Thanks to the Cathedral authorities we found a new venue, and were lucky to get somewhere nearby. The Council were persuaded to pay for the transport and tuning of the piano for the new location. The lack of information to the organisers of the concert by Cardiff Council left a lot to be desired and any future dealings with the Council should be undertaken with care. I must admit that the huge bouquets of flowers from the council as an apology for the inconvenience didn’t help matters much.
At 5.30 the piano was tuned, John and his little helpers built a stage, set up a red velvet back drop, lights were rigged and sim sala bim an atmosphere of stage dramatics was created. The concert was a success and people really seemed to enjoy themselves with the good old Gershwin and Weil repertoire and a glass of wine.
Our last concert at Llandaff Catherdral went without any complications and a lovely crowd of 130 people turned up, amongst them were family and some of my dearest friends. It is a fantastic venue and the acoustics where amazing and Taina finally got the chance to play the grand piano!
It certainly turned out to be a weekend I’ll remember, not just because of all the challenges we had to deal with but because of what a fantastic team we made!
Now I am looking forward to the new challenges that lie ahead of me. Denmark, Norway, Cardiff in the New Year and then the Netherlands.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
A NEW ADVENTURE IS ABOUT TO BEGIN
A NEW ADVENTURE IS ABOUT TO BEGIN
I am about to start a new adventure, to Copenhagen in Denmark. I am leaving for Kristiansand on Friday early in the morning to record and complete the tracks I am taking part on in this house music project. Then I am off to Denmark. A lot of butterflies in my stomach right now! Can’t wait to get some intensive guidance on my voice and make new friends in Denmark. If all goes as planned I will be staying there until the end of November, but it is all down to finance to be honest.
I am about to start a new adventure, to Copenhagen in Denmark. I am leaving for Kristiansand on Friday early in the morning to record and complete the tracks I am taking part on in this house music project. Then I am off to Denmark. A lot of butterflies in my stomach right now! Can’t wait to get some intensive guidance on my voice and make new friends in Denmark. If all goes as planned I will be staying there until the end of November, but it is all down to finance to be honest.
HOUSEMUSIC PROJECT
HOUSE MUSIC PROJECT
I have had one of the most inspirational weekends of my life! To stand in a studio, letting the music fill my body and soul, just let go and improvise not thinking of what’s right or wrong. What an amazing feeling! It gave me extra confidence and faith in my voice. It made me see that if I just let go, my voice knows what to do. This is a feeling I want to bring in to my classical music!
I have had one of the most inspirational weekends of my life! To stand in a studio, letting the music fill my body and soul, just let go and improvise not thinking of what’s right or wrong. What an amazing feeling! It gave me extra confidence and faith in my voice. It made me see that if I just let go, my voice knows what to do. This is a feeling I want to bring in to my classical music!
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Master classes and workshops in Sussex
MASTER CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS IN SUSSEX
What an amazing experience! I have learnt so much this last week and worked with some fantastic teachers and coaches such as Ameral Gunson, Penny MacKay, Richard Jackson, Delia Lindon, Andrew Robinson, Robin Martin - Oliver, Gregory Rose, Robin Bowman and Jonathan Hinden. The participants were such a nice bunch! Not only did we sing, but Monday night I experienced my first barn dance!
Our opera scene from Verdi’s Falstaff where I played Alice was a challenging but joyful experience. After our final performance at the end of the course it was also fantastic to get such positive feedback, not only for my stage presence but also for the quality of my voice, and believe it or not for my top register! This I can thank the yoga and Trager sessions for! In the beginning the thought of yoga at 7am in the morning without first having breakfast, was not a tempting thought. However as the week went by I grew to love it! This and my trager session helped me to discover a freedom in my voice that I have been working to achieve for such a long time. Now it is up to me to achieve this freedom and release on my own and to continue the work.
It was a week which gave me so much confidence, joy and even more love for music, if that is possible. I am so looking forward to all the challenges, projects, gigs and the unforeseeable future that lies ahead of me. I feel blessed and very lucky.
What an amazing experience! I have learnt so much this last week and worked with some fantastic teachers and coaches such as Ameral Gunson, Penny MacKay, Richard Jackson, Delia Lindon, Andrew Robinson, Robin Martin - Oliver, Gregory Rose, Robin Bowman and Jonathan Hinden. The participants were such a nice bunch! Not only did we sing, but Monday night I experienced my first barn dance!
Our opera scene from Verdi’s Falstaff where I played Alice was a challenging but joyful experience. After our final performance at the end of the course it was also fantastic to get such positive feedback, not only for my stage presence but also for the quality of my voice, and believe it or not for my top register! This I can thank the yoga and Trager sessions for! In the beginning the thought of yoga at 7am in the morning without first having breakfast, was not a tempting thought. However as the week went by I grew to love it! This and my trager session helped me to discover a freedom in my voice that I have been working to achieve for such a long time. Now it is up to me to achieve this freedom and release on my own and to continue the work.
It was a week which gave me so much confidence, joy and even more love for music, if that is possible. I am so looking forward to all the challenges, projects, gigs and the unforeseeable future that lies ahead of me. I feel blessed and very lucky.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Sussex
Exiting times ahead! On Friday 17th of August I am off to Summer Music School in Sussex for a week 18th – 27th of August. I can’t wait to start working on the scene from Verdi’s Falstaff, the Mozart recitative class and the song classes. It is so much fun to learn new material and get new impulses especially from such excellent staff. I was also very lucky to be one of the people who received a scholarship and it was because of that scholarship that I am able to take part in the course. I have been preparing for this summer course not just by practicing my singing voice, but also by splashing around on the lovely lake “Selbusjøen” in our family kayak. Peaceful for the body and mind, you should try it! Had some fantastic weeks working as a guide at Ringve music museum and taking part in cruise concerts. Got to broaden my skills within the music instrument world and play some beautiful instruments, but also got to use some of my language skills such as German. In other words I have had a fantastic summer where I have met a lot of interesting and lovely people!
Apart from this John Mills and I had the fantastic news! Our concert tour in Holland has been confirmed, April 2007. I will tell you more about these concerts nearer the time.
Exiting times ahead! On Friday 17th of August I am off to Summer Music School in Sussex for a week 18th – 27th of August. I can’t wait to start working on the scene from Verdi’s Falstaff, the Mozart recitative class and the song classes. It is so much fun to learn new material and get new impulses especially from such excellent staff. I was also very lucky to be one of the people who received a scholarship and it was because of that scholarship that I am able to take part in the course. I have been preparing for this summer course not just by practicing my singing voice, but also by splashing around on the lovely lake “Selbusjøen” in our family kayak. Peaceful for the body and mind, you should try it! Had some fantastic weeks working as a guide at Ringve music museum and taking part in cruise concerts. Got to broaden my skills within the music instrument world and play some beautiful instruments, but also got to use some of my language skills such as German. In other words I have had a fantastic summer where I have met a lot of interesting and lovely people!
Apart from this John Mills and I had the fantastic news! Our concert tour in Holland has been confirmed, April 2007. I will tell you more about these concerts nearer the time.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
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