April 2009

A production of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen’s masterpiece ‘Peer Gynt’ by the National Theatre of Scotland and Dundee Rep Ensemble, described as a theatrical roller-coaster ride, will now run at London’s Barbican. An exhilarating tale of a life lived on the edge; this production promises a mix of trolls, madmen, dancing girls and live music. [+] Read more

One of Scandinavia’s most sought-after violinists, Henning Kraggerud, will perform the dark and exhilarating Violin Concerto of Sibelius at London's Cadogan Hall. The concert will also feature Dvořák's ‘From The New World’ Symphony and Rossini's 'Semiramide Overture', performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Thomas Dausgaard. [+] Read more

Norwegian artist Gro Thorsen, whose miniature paintings have been a hit across the world, will hold her second solo exhibition in the UK at the Jill George Gallery in Soho, London. The exhibition consists of various new works, including a large composite painting entitled ‘Seasons’, and a series of images of Scottish tennis star Andy Murray. [+] Read more

Three Norwegian shorts have been selected for the 23rd London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. The films are part of three different programmes: ‘The Watch’, a Norwegian-Argentinean co-production, will show as part of ‘Detours and Distractions’, whilst art film ‘Berlinmuren’ will screen as part of ‘Outside to Catch the Action’, and finally ‘Benny's Gym’ will be shown twice as part of ‘The Shape of Things To Come’ [+] Read more

One of Norway's most popular female singers, 25-year-old Marit Larsen, is currently supporting American chart-topper Jason Mraz on his European tour, which includes three UK dates. Singer/songwriter Larsen, released her second album 'The Chase' in Norway last year, and it quickly sold to platinum and produced a number one hit, just like her debut album 'Under the Surface' did in 2006. [+] Read more

The Norwegian dance company Frikar Dance, who will accompany Norway’s Eurovision entrant on stage in Moscow later this spring, is heading to Witham Hall in Barnard Castle on Saturday 4 April for a one-off performance. The company consists of Halling-dancers - a Norwegian folk dance - breakdancers, capoeiristas and contemporary dancers, and their motto is ‘refined roughness’. [+] Read more

Scotland's Northern Streams Festival features a number of Norwegian artists this year, including a Sami joik duo. Ante Mikkel (featured in Joanna Lumley’s ‘Northern Lights’ BBC TV programme) and Inger-Berit Gaup provide a rare opportunity to hear "joik", the unique vocal tradition of the northern Sami culture. 
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Mathias Eick, an award-winning jazz musician on the rise, travels around the UK with his Quartet for a number of concerts. The 28-year-old Norwegian trumpeter cites Miles Davis, Clifford Brown, Kenny Wheeler, Tomasz Stanko, Arve Henriksen and Nils Petter Molvær as influences upon his stylistic evolution as a soloist. 
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Over 100 years after his death, the music of Edvard Grieg still travels across the world and this time lands at a concert in Andover, Hampshire. Works by Grieg, as well as compositions by Sibelius, Nielsen and Borodin, will be performed by the Andover Choral Society, a voluntary amateur choral group. 
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Along with several other spectacular buildings, Snøhetta’s Oslo Opera House is on the shortlist for the Brit Insurance Design Awards for architecture. The awards conicide with an exhibition at the Design Museum, which presents the finalists in numerous categories, including two other Norwegian contenders.
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Samuel Adamson’s play ’Mrs. Affleck’, inspired by Henrik Ibsen’s ’Little Eyolf’, will be staged at the National Theatre in London from January through April. "There are new characters, a new setting, new themes, new subplots and all sorts of changes including an altered ending, but it remains a play about parenthood, obsessive love and loss," says Adamson. [+] Read more