In my post for Knok.com, I wrote about exploring a little of the history of Bergen, and shared a lot of my photos about that aspect here on my blog.

That was my final draft. My first one was over 4000 words (!) and included several other attributes of this area. And as much as I love exploring the history of Bergen, I really wanted to include those other highlights too. So I told those words they’d see themselves in a blog post soon.

Here are the first of those words – the ones that shouted the loudest to me, after the history words were published! I mentioned concerts at Koengen, and wanted to explore a bit of the wealth of music and culture opportunities in and around the city too. (I am a flutist, and my career before moving to Norway was teaching flute; it’s only natural that the Bergen culture scene should grab me!) I haven’t attended or visited everything, of course, so this just covers my perspective.

Places

Grieghallen, home to the Bergen Philharmonic, is the large indoor performing arts venue. It contains a 1,500 seat concert hall, a smaller area that seats 600, a TV studio, and large foyers for the audience to gather. Viewed from above, the building has the outline of a grand piano.The acoustics are fantastic … and if classical music isn’t your “thing,” just knowing that the recording studio is famous within the black metal community – several Norwegian black metal albums were recorded there – might make a visit more interesting!

Grieghallen as seen across the valley – June 2006

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concert in Grieghallen – June 3, 2012

Grieghallen statue

Den Nationale Scene (The National Stage) is Norway’s oldest permanent theater. Founded by Ole Bull to help develop Norwegian playwrights, Henrik Ibsen was one of the first writers-in-residence and artistic directors. The theater presents about 20 productions each year on its three stages. I saw a production of Les Misérables a couple years ago – very interesting in Norwegian, and very well done!

Den Nationale Scene
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looking up towards Den Nationale Scene on July 31, 2011, while viewing the flowers and memorials left in memory of the victims of the attacks in Oslo and on Utøya; it was a quiet and emotional experience

Logen Teater and Den Nationale Scene
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Bergen was home to two famous composers, and a visit to their homes gives a unique perspective and understanding to their music!

Troldhaugen was the home of Edvard Grieg and his wife, Nina, for the last 22 summers of his life. Grieg found much of his musical inspiration here. The site is a museum and includes the Villa, the composer’s hut, Edvard and Nina’s grave site, a modern museum building, and the concert hall Troldsalen (a chamber music hall that seats 200 people and overlooks the composer’s hut and Nordåsvannet). I had a tiny view of Troldhaugen from the home we lived in for five years; I used to say that the birds that heard me practicing Grieg on my flute through the window were the “grandchildren” of the birds that listened to Grieg composing it in his hut!

Troldhaugen – June 2006

walking down to Grieg’s composer’s hut, on the rocks above Nordåsvannet – July 2010

peeking inside the composer’s hut – June 2006

statue of Grieg – June 2006

a walk down from Troldhaugen brings you to the peaceful burial place of Edvard and Nina Grieg – June 2006

Troldsalen roof – photo source

inside Troldsalen, looking down to the composer’s hut – photo source

looking up to the Troldsalen; Troldhaugen is to the left – photo source

 

Ole Bull was a world-renown virtuoso violinist and composer; his dedication to Norway’s folk music played a key role in the development of Norwegian culture. His Villa on Lysøen is perhaps his most recognizable, and his summer house on Valestrand on Osterøy also gives a glimpse into his musical inspiration. My first concert attendance here in Norway was in his Valestrand summer home. It was an intimate setting of about fifty people. I sat on a period couch (or perhaps it was an original?) and was surrounded by his instruments, paintings, photos, and mementos while music of his era, performed on period instruments, surrounded me. All the mementos were within touching distance, and all were safe because the people respected the value of these instruments and collectibles and only used their eyes to examine. Outside the windows, the Norwegian landscape beckoned. It was a remarkable and inspiring afternoon for a 21st century flutist!

Another personal observation … we now live opposite Lysøen, just across the narrow fjord and about 100 meters up. Once more, I feel the energy and inspirational surroundings of a famous Norwegian composer permeating my personal area, and the musician in me loves it!

Lysøen – photo source

Valestrand on Osterøy – photo source

there’s a beautiful bridge to Osterøy, but if you’d like to experience the journey “before bridge,” take the ferry … appropriately named! – June 2006

Ole Bull ferry – August 2007

There are many art museums in Bergen containing Norwegian and international paintings and collections. My favorites are the Bergen Kunsthall and Kode – the Art Museums of Bergen … but there are many more!

Groups

There are many groups and associations in the area, but the one I know the most about (and volunteer a little of my time with) is the Bergen Chamber Music Society (Bergens Kammermusikforening). They offer a program of ten to twelve chamber music concerts throughout the year; artists include members of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and artists from around the city – and also guest artists from abroad. I’ve been to several concerts held at various venues around Bergen, including Korskirken and Johanneskirken (enjoyable for the music, acoustics, and feeling a part of Bergen history!), the Reksten Gallery/Museum, and Troldhaugen’s Troldsalen.

Events

Back in 2006 I wrote about the concerts, experiences, and emotions of attending performances during that year’s Bergen International Music Festival (Festspillene i Bergen). I didn’t live here yet, and it was a wonderful introduction to the cultural atmosphere. The annual festival is held for two weeks in May and June, and offers a complete mix to satisfy everyone – music, theater, opera, dance, debate, exhibition, family, and outdoor genres. Venues include Grieghallen, Den Nationale Scene, Logen Teater, Haakenshallen, Studio Bergen, Domkirken, Johanneskirken, Troldhaugen, Lysøen, Valestrand, Siljustøl, and Oseana, as well as the Bergen streets and town squares.

During the festival, the OiOi Festival (OiOi Festivalen) is also going on. An outdoor program organized by Bergen composer Ole Hamre, OiOi stands for Opplevelse, Innlevelse, Oppsikt, and Innsikt – Experience, Empathy, Attention, and Insight – and the motto “Distinctive and popular” is the festival’s main goal to get more people to feel a natural part of the Bergen International Festival.

OiOi Festival
May 31, 2009

The International Jazz Festival “Nattjazz” also takes place during this time.

Two annual events that I haven’t been to (yet!) and want to mention are Borealis (the Bergen Contemporary Music Festival) held in March, and the Bergen International Film Festival held in October.

What cultural activities are you interested in? Have you visited or attended any here in Bergen, or in your own corner of the world? Share your experiences – I’d like to live them vicariously!