— Terje Vigen meets Beethoven, Schumann & Grieg.
Few chamber musical works possess as much romantic power as Robert Schumann's Piano Quintet. He dedicated the work to his wife, Clara Schumann, who described it as «magnificent, full of power and freshness». She herself was prevented from premiering the quintet, but Felix Mendelssohn stepped in and played the «devilish» piano part — reportedly without having seen the score beforehand.
This afternoon, we welcome one of Norway's foremost chamber ensembles to the stage: The Engegård Quartet, established under the midnight sun in Lofoten in 2005 and known for their fresh interpretations of the classical repertoire. They are joined by pianist Thormod Rønning Kvam, who in June will make his solo debut at the Bergen International Festival with music by, among others, Sæverud and Grieg — composers who will also be featured in this concert.
We will also experience Beethoven's string quartet op. 95 'Serioso', spiced up with Ibsen's Terje Vigen recited by one of the grand old men of Norwegian theatre: Ola B. Johannessen . Welcome!
Ola B. Johannessen actor
Arvid Engegård violin
Amanda Håøy Horn violin
Juliet Jopling viola
Jan Clemens Carlsen cello
Thormod Rønning Kvam piano
Duration approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes including interval.
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Selected piano pieces by Grieg , Tveitt & Sæverud
Henrik Ibsen (1828—1906)
Terry VigenLudwig van Beethoven (1770—1827)
String Quartet in F minor, op. 95 'Serioso'Robert Schumann (1810—1856)
Piano Quintet in E flat major, op. 44 -
Actor, director, and former theatre director Ola B. Johannessen has shaped Norwegian performing arts for over six decades. After graduating from the National Academy of Theatre and pursuing further studies in pantomime with Henryk Tomaszewski in Poland, he became one of the first in Norway to work with a strongly physical stage expression. Johannessen has served as theatre director at both Trøndelag Teater and Rogaland Teater, and has performed many of the major Ibsen roles on Norwegian stages — including Bishop Nikolas and Duke Skule in The Pretenders, Rubek in When We Dead Awaken, and the title role in Catiline. His encounter with Tomaszewski and his work on Brand and Peer Gynt led him, in his own words, to 'see Ibsen in a completely new way'. It is precisely this lifelong familiarity with Ibsen's textual universe that he brings with him as he reads Terje Vigen at Ramme this afternoon.
The Engegård Quartet was formed under the midnight sun in Lofoten in 2005 and has since established itself as one of Norway's leading chamber ensembles. The quartet is known for its bold and fresh interpretations of the classical core repertoire, while also highlighting its Scandinavian origins through a close relationship with Norwegian contemporary music and commissioned works from composers such as Maja Solveig Kjelstrup Ratkje, Lasse Thoresen, and Olli Mustonen. The quartet consists of Arvid Engegård (first violin), Amanda Håøy Horn (second violin), Juliet Jopling (viola), and Jan Clemens Carlsen (cello). They have performed on central European stages such as the Mozarteum in Salzburg and the Rudolfinum in Prague, and are known for their close connection to the Bergen International Festival, Oslo Chamber Music Festival, and Lofoten International Chamber Music Festival — the latter founded by Arvid Engegård himself. The Strad has described their playing as «breathtaking».
Thormod Rønning Kvam belongs to a new generation of Nordic performers who combine an international concert career with a dedication to innovating classical music presentation. He is currently a recipient of the Norwegian Government Artist Grant for young artists, and in 2023, he was appointed Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in London (ARAM) for ‘his significant contribution to the music profession’. The following year, he received both the Nils Larsen International Debut Prize and the Fegersten Scholarship. In June, he will make his solo debut at the Bergen International Festival, performing music by Sæverud, Tchaikovsky, and Grieg. Other highlights in recent years include performances at London's Wigmore Hall, Harpa in Reykjavik, the Norwegian National Opera, and Stockholm Concert Hall, as well as solo tours with ensembles such as the Norwegian Wind Ensemble under the direction of Christian Eggen. Kvam is the founder and Artistic Director of Aulaseriene.
We wish you an enjoyable, unique concert experience with us. Welcome!
Photo: Ingvild Festervoll Melien (Johannessen) / Lars Bryngelsson (Engegård Quartet) / Per Sollerman (Kvam)