Grieg Seminar

May, 2011

From May 16th till 22nd, the students from ZPSM no. 1 in Warsaw participated in the seminar, presenting the indviduality of Edvard Grieg – the most famous Norwegian composer. The stay started from the celebration of National Constitution Day in Norway and the trip to Oscarsborg – island-fortress, which history was revealed to the students by the Norway Ambassador John Bjornebye. The students stayed for a while in Drobak, where they played the concert. The day after they worked during the masterclasses in the Barratt Due Institute under the guidance of professors; they also met the students from previous phases of project. On May 19th the group came to Troldhaugen, where, in Edvard Grieg Museum, they were hosted by the director of Museum and took part in the lecture of prof. Eilif Løtvedt, which was continued the day after during the visit to Siljustøl – the memorial house of Harald Saeverud. The presentation of epoque of the greatest Norwegian composers was completed in Lysoen – the Ole Bull museum and lecture of Berit Høgheim The Polish-Norwegian group performed during the stay around Bergen 3 concerts – in Troldsalen (Troldhaugen), Siljustøl, and on the island Lysoen.  

The summary of trip:

On May 16th the group from Warsaw arrived in Oslo.  The group consisted of seven students and one professor.
During the stay in Oslo the group was accommodated at Ellingsens pensjonat and in Bergen at Montana Vandrerhjem.

On May 17th after breakfast at Kaffe Kopp Café we all went through the palace garden to the front of the palace to watch the 17th of May parade and the royal family. The 17th of May is the Norwegian Constitution day and it is being celebrated with a parade with all school children and marching bands. The weather was beautiful and the main street of Oslo was packed with people in national costumes.
Walking all the way down the main street we caught the bus to Drøbak; a city about 40 kilometers south of Oslo by the Oslofjord. We had lunch at Ellen Bjornebyes house; a two hundred years old house typical for the region.
After lunch we played the small concert and then visited the  Oscarsborg fortress which is best known for sinking the German heavy cruiser Blücher on April 1940. We had a guided tour by Ambassador John Bjørnebye.

On May 18th the students practised individually at the Barratt Due Institute of Music to prepare for masterclasses that took place in the afternoon with professor Stephan Barratt-Due and professor Ole Eirik Ree. In the evening we had dinner together with some professors and students at Barratt Due. It was a nice reunion for all the students and the professors taking part in different fases of  the project.

On May 19th we went by plane to Bergen. From the airport we went straight to Troldhaugen; the Edvard Grieg Museum, where we were received by the staff. We had lunch together with the director and other staff members before the students gave a concert in Troldsalen. Students from the music department at Langhaugen highschool was invited to the concert. A guided tour by professor Eilif Løtvedt took place after the concert.

On May 20th we visited the home and museum Siljustøl; the former home of the Norwegian composer Harald Sæverud. Professor Eilif Løtvedt gave a lecture and a tour of the museum and the students gave a concert.

In the early evening we went to Bergen city for sightseeing and dinner.

On May 21st we spent most of the day at the island Lysøen. This is situated south of Bergen in Lysefjorden. The house was built and owned by the violinist Ole Bull and is now a museum and a concert venue. The students gave a concert and had a guided tour by the director Berit Høgheim. They were also invited to try out two of Ole Bulls violins. Some of the students play on copies of one of Bulls violins and therefore this was an exciting experience.

In the evening the students were able to meet some sudents that came to Poland during the project. We had dinner at ”Bryggen”.

In the early morning on May 22nd the Polish students together with professor Tatiana Kramer returned to Warszawa.