Ragnhild Hemsing and “Vivaldi from Valdres”

In the historic Geiranger Church, Ragnhild Hemsing presents her latest project: Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" in the tone world of Norwegian folk music. She believes that the Hardanger fiddle is Norway's baroque instrument and aims to highlight the similarities between Vivaldi's baroque melodies and Norwegian folk music.

The violinist and Hardanger fiddle player is this year's festival profile at the Festival in Geiranger 2024, and she has several engagements during this year's festival. She will be accompanied by seven musicians from Barokkanerne, led by Jadran Duncumb. In addition to new arrangements of "The Four Seasons," the program will include traditional folk tunes from Valdres and a new fantasy by Agnes Pettersen.

Vivaldi on Hardanger Fiddle

At the opening concert of the Festival in Geiranger, Vivaldi receives an unexpected refresh when Ragnhild Hemsing performs "The Four Seasons" on the Hardanger fiddle. The piece is filtered through the folk music tradition of Valdres, in collaboration with Barokkanerne. We look forward to experiencing this musical experiment.

Ragnhild Hemsing is known for merging folk music and classical music in a fresh and modern way. She started playing the violin at the age of five and made her debut at fourteen with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. She is also the artistic director of the Hemsing Festival in Valdres, together with her sister Eldbjørg.

International Popularity

Ragnhild Hemsing has established herself as a sought-after artist internationally, performing at renowned venues such as Wigmore Hall in London, the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, and AlpenKlassik in Germany. She has been a soloist with major orchestras like Staatskapelle Weimar and NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover. She has won several awards, including the Beethoven Ring at the Beethovenfest in Bonn in 2013, and has been a guest at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert.

Hemsing's unique combination of Norwegian folk music and classical music has made her a popular artist on both national and international stages, known for her energetic and passionate performances that captivate audiences worldwide.

Time: Friday, September 27 at 8:00 PM
Venue: Geiranger Church