Det er utruleg stas at sjølvaste Ragnhild Hemsing blir med oss på Festspela i år. Ho var nyleg hovudartist med ei rekkje konsertar under Festpillene i Bergen og i september kjem ho til Geiranger.
Ragnhild deltek gjennom heile helga: Fagseminar og opningskonsert fredag, meisterklasse for unge laurdag, og ei heilt unik konsertforestilling saman med Hallgrim Hansegård på fjellgarden Knivsflå på søndag. Vi gler oss stort!
Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" on Hardanger Fiddle
Ragnhild Hemsing, with deep roots in Norwegian folk music and a solid background in classical music education, has distinguished herself as one of Norway's foremost violinists. Recently, she was a featured musician at the Bergen International Festival, where she participated in no fewer than twelve concerts. During the opening concert in Geiranger Church, she will present her latest project "Vivaldi from Valdres," where she brings Antonio Vivaldi's famous "The Four Seasons" into the world of folk music. With the Hardanger fiddle, she demonstrates the similarities between folk music and the renowned work of the Italian Baroque composer.
Hemsing states that she considers the Hardanger fiddle to be Norway's baroque instrument, and it is fascinating to see how much European Baroque music and our own folk music have in common.
Two unique venues
The renowned violinist will give two concerts during the Festival. The opening concert, “Vivaldi from Valdres,” in the historic Geiranger Church on Friday evening, will be performed together with the orchestra Barokkanerne under the direction of the renowned lutenist Jadran Duncumb. This program, first performed to a full house at Håkonshallen during the Bergen International Festival, includes not only Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" but also folk tunes from Valdres and a newly composed work for Hardanger fiddle and baroque orchestra by the Norwegian composer Agnes Ida Pettersen. The intimate Geiranger Church has acoustics that are highly suitable for chamber music, providing a space where the audience can get close to the musicians and “smell the rosin.” Experiencing this famous work in such a beautiful setting will be a truly unique experience.
On Sunday, there will be an opportunity to experience Ragnhild Hemsing once again, this time in the stunning surroundings of the mountain farm Knivsflå. There, together with her husband and dancer Hallgrim Hansegard, she will present a program tailored to this unique location. The terrace farm Knivsflå, located near the Seven Sisters waterfall and offering a panoramic view over the Geirangerfjord, provides a setting for the concert that rivals the very best. The organizers are very proud to present world-class artists in this venue.
Hallgrim Hansegard first gained fame through “Fairytale” and his collaboration with Alexander Rybak during the Eurovision Song Contest. The acrobatic dancer has made his mark both through solo performances and with the dance company FRIKAR.
There is a limited number of seats available for the concerts on both Friday and Sunday, so the organizers advise the audience to purchase tickets promptly. Shared boat transport to Knivsflå will be organized.
