A new chapter for the Debut series
— New concert concept for tomorrow's musicians is being tested in Håkon's Hall .
Håkon's Hall in Bergen. Photo: Ingvild Festervoll Melien
This summer, the Debut Series takes the step into one of the country's most historic concert halls: From August 7th to 9th, some of the Nordic region's leading young musicians will meet side by side with established names during The Håkon's Hall Concerts .
On Saturday, August 8, a completely new concept will be tried out: At four mini-concerts from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the audience will experience young as well as internationally established performers with different repertoire focuses — a rare opportunity to hear a tailor-made mix of both musicians and music.
The debut series was launched in 2025 as a dedicated platform for young Nordic performers on the threshold of international careers. With this summer's concerts in Håkon's Hall The initiative is being brought into this space for the first time — where, among others, newly graduated musicians from the Grieg Academy and young freelancers from Bergen's music scene will be given a place together with performers such as Mari Eriksmoen and Benedicte Maurseth .
A meeting between the generations. The core of the concept is precisely this meeting — between those who have just completed their education and those who have made a mark in the genre over several years. During The Håkon's Hall Concerts Maurseth, one of Bergen's most prominent folk musicians, plays side by side with, among others, the young violinists Alma Kraggerud and Henning Felde Haldorsen , pianist Kei Solvang and soprano Helen Tyssekvam .
— Håkon's Hall carries over seven hundred years of history within its walls. Letting some of Bergen's most exciting young musicians share the stage with established performers in such a space provides a setting that is hard to find anywhere else, says the artistic director of Aulaseriene , pianist Thormod Rønning Kvam.
— For the youngest performers, it's not just about playing well. They also need training in communicating, in standing in the room with an audience. The passion and music they are passionate about must be able to be shared and captured even by those who have not experienced classical music before. You learn that best by working closely with musicians who have been doing just that for years, continues Rønning Kvam.
Photo: Ingvild Festervoll Melien
Bergen is one of the country's largest professional environments for classical music, with the Bergen Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, the Grieg Academy and a broad freelance community that sends talented performers out into international professional life every year. With the Debut Series and this summer's Håkonshall concerts, we wish Aulaseriene to tie these more closely together.
"We want the initiative to have local roots, not just visiting names. Bergen has an environment that we want to build on over time," concludes Rønning Kvam, who will also play with some of the young performers at the concert on August 8.
The following day, Sunday 9 August , the young, award-winning string quartet Saphir and pianist Ossi Tanner will take over, showing another side of the same commitment to young Nordic musicians. With them they will bring one of Sibelius' forgotten masterpieces: the Piano Quintet in G minor, which Norwegian Johan Halvorsen helped to premiere shortly before he himself came to Bergen to lead the Harmonien.
Local partners make the initiative possible. A special thank you goes to Aulaserien's main supporter in Bergen, Hilmar Rekstens Allmennyttige Fond, who through increased funding makes this initiative possible. Thanks also to Westfal-Larsen's Allmennyttige Fond and our regular, public supporters: Vestland County Council and Bergen Municipality.
— Without supporters who share a long-term view, this cannot be done. The fact that both private donors and the public sector in Bergen and Vestland are behind it gives us room to think several years ahead, not just one season, concludes Rønning Kvam.
The full programme and more information about the performers in this summer's Håkonshall concerts can be found on this page . Feel free to sign up for our newsletter to receive updates directly to your inbox.
