Back to the Future of Music History

While Bergen is at it’s most beautiful and we are in the middle of the Bergen International Festival, BIT20 Ensemble takes the stage in Korskirken together with violinist Olga Melby Larsson from Laksevåg. The program features some of the greatest names in music history, as well as new names from contemporary composers.

The Norwegian composers Jonas Skaarud (1990–) and Martin Hirsti-Kvam (1991–) are part of the Festival Academy’s mentor program Premiere, and each presents a world premiere on this summer evening. Their inspiration comes partly from Robert Schumann (1810–1856) and Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643–1704), who are also included in the concert program.

BIT20 Ensemble’s artistic director, Bjarni Frímann, conducts and brings together a repertoire that looks both backward and forward in time.

The concert concludes with Fog by the festival’s Artist in Residence, the Finnish composer Esa-Pekka Salonen (1958–). Fog was written for the Canadian architect Frank Gehry’s 90th birthday and refers both to Gehry’s avant-garde buildings and to Bach’s (1685–1750) Prelude in E major, which is performed immediately before Fog.

Programme 

Johann Sebastian Bach Befiehl du deine Wege, BWV 272, arr. Hans Abrahamsen  
Jonas Skaarud which is not reluctant, or of it is, it is no longer important (world premiere) 
Robert Schumann Frå Fiolinkonsert i d-moll, WoO 23 2. Langsam with solist Olga Melby Larsson  
Martin Hirsti-Kvam La Petite Cathédrale for sinfonietta (world premiere) 
Marc-Antoine Charpentier From Le Reniement de Sant Pierre, H 424 
3. Tunc respexit Jesus Petrum 
Martin Hirsti-Kvam Four Part Motet 
Johann Sebastian Bach From Partita for fiolin nr 3 i E-dur, BWV 1006 
1. Preludio with solist Olga Melby Larsson 
Esa-Pekka Salonen Fog 

On stage 

BIT20 Ensemble 
Bjarni Frímann conductor 
Olga Melby Larsson violin 

Venue Church of the Cross 
Date 5th of June 
Concert 7 PM

The concert is a collaboration between the Bergen International Festival and BIT20 Ensemble, supported by the DNB Savings Bank Foundation and Talent Norway.