Concerts in March: Brahms, Grieg, Mozart, Futrell & Scarlatti

After covid, it was now a privilege to be able to play concerts again! The long awaited and postponed 'Stabat Mater project' with the TERJUNGENSEMBLE, performing one old Stabat Mater, by Alessandro Scarlatti, and one brand new one, by Tyler Futrell, was a success. Our performance at The Oslo International Church Music Festival, resulted in a reengagement with the same programme at their continuation of the festival in September this year, mostly featuring international artists. And our two wonderful soloists Silje Aker Johnsen (soprano) and Astrid Nordstad (mezzosoprano) will again be with us. Cool! Especially Tyler's piece made a huge impact, and I dare say that I've hardly ever felt such an emotional response from an audience before. Of course this is also due to the situation in Europe with the horrifying war scenes and sufferings we witness in Ukraine, which affects us all emotionally these days. 
I also had great fun doing Brahms' Symphony #2 and Grieg's piano concerto with the Vestfold Symphony Orchestra and soloist Håvard Gimse, and Mozart's Requiem with the Sunnhordland Chamber Orchestra, during the last couple of weeks.

Great musicians and soloists, enthusiastic audiences – I believe that music is more important than ever as a means of obtaining understanding, peace and freedom in this world unfortunately also filled with hostility, hatred and anger. The power of the arts is strong. We’ll keep on striving!