Oslo Sinfonietta @ Oslo International Church Music Festival

Norwegian Music Through the Last 100 Years – A Medley by Christian Eggen (2017)

Bente Leiknes Thorsen – Cello Concerto (2017)

Soloist: Tanja Orning

For the festival, a new cello concerto by Bente Leiknes Thorsen has been commissioned, to be performed by Tanja Orning. The idea for the work emerged from a shared desire for collaboration between the composer and the soloist. Orning engages with Thorsen’s open notation material (notation-based improvisations) and recordings from the composer’s unique sample library. To deepen her understanding of the instrument, Thorsen is learning to play the cello herself. Meetings where materials, techniques, and improvisations are documented form the basis of a solo work for cello. This solo piece is then further developed into a composition for cello and ensemble. The work has a duration of 20–25 minutes.

The second piece on the programme is a medley—a historical cross-section of Norwegian compositions, highlighting key works from the past 100 years. The idea behind the project is to celebrate Norwegian composers as part of the Norwegian Society of Composers’ centennial anniversary. Over the years, Norwegian composers have contributed many significant works to our shared cultural heritage, and this exclusive selection serves as a tribute to their legacy.