Bergen International Festival

09/12/2023

The world is celebrating Jon Fosse this week. The Nobel prize laureate in literature is well-known as an author and playwright – but did you know that the record Åresong consists of Fosse poems set to music?

This is one of the about 20 Fosse projects at presented at the Bergen International Festival since 1995. From the six Cuban actors performing Fosse in an small apartment, to readings and world premieres and an event Fosse opened himself by standing silently onstage – we’re grateful for being a part of this incredible journey which will have another highlight in Stockholm on Sunday 10 December.

Our most heartfelt congratulations, and thank you!

Picture: Jon Fosse with Gabriel Fliflet, who wrote the album Åresong in 2010. Photo: Magnus Skrede

05/12/2023

Today we're launching three new events and an extra performance of Peer Gynt!✨

With FiB Fordel membership, you can buy tickets for the new events right away. Regular onsale begins Wednesday 6 December at 10:00.

21/11/2023

Tickets to all launched events are now available. You can book your tickets for 2024 artist in residence Ragnhild Hemsing’s events, and a number of concerts at Grieghallen, Håkonshallen, Den Nationale Scene and Kode’s Edvard Grieg Museum Troldhaugen.

14/11/2023

For Ragnhild Hemsing, the violin and Hardanger fiddle are equally important. Shes is the next Artist in residence at the Bergen International Festival.

‘Since the beginning, the Bergen International Festival has been a place where folk culture meets classical music. We are delighted to be able to present an Artist in residence who has one foot in each of these traditions and who moves seamlessly between them, says Festival director Lars Petter Hagen.

Read more: https://fib.no/en/articles/with-ole-bulls-hardanger-fiddle-to-bergen/
📷: Kaupo Kikkas

25/10/2023

The 2024 Bergen International Festival composer in residence is Øyvind Torvund.

Torvund's music will be presented through four different events. There will be a children's performance, new chamber music with the American JACK Quartet and Yarn/Wire, plans for new musicals performed by BIT20 Ensemble and new orchestral music in Grieghallen where members of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra will be placed in various spots around the large concert hall.

The 2024 Bergen International Festival composer in residence is known for his great plans and musical range. This spring he presents new music for both symphony and musicals. 

05/10/2023

Finally! Jon Fosse wins the Nobel Literature Prize! 💥

‘What a day for Norway and for Strandebarm. Congratulations to Jon Fosse from all of us the Bergen International Festival, this is long-awaited and well deserved, says Festival director Lars Petter Hagen.

This spring saw the world premiere of Jon Fosse’s play I svarte skogen inne (Inside the black forest), written for Det Vestnorske Teateret and Det Norske Teatret, in collaboration with the Bergen International Festival. Previous festival productions of Fosse’s plays include premiers of Andvake (Wakefulness) in 2017, Hav (Ocean) in 2014, Skuggar (Shadows) in 2006 and Draum om hausten (Dream of Autumn) 2005.

The Swedish Academy rewards his "innovative plays and prose which gives voice to the unsayable".

28/09/2023

The 2024 Bergen International Festival opens with a performance that highlights both the writing and the music of the Norwegian icon Peer Gynt.

Peer is played by Herbert Nordrum, and the direction is by Johannes Holmen Dahl. The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra is led by Thomas Søndergård, and on stage you will also meet Ragnhild Hemsing, who will have an expanded musical role.

Peer Gynt is a co-production with Nationaltheatret, and after the festival premiere in Grieghallen, the performance will continue at Nationaltheatret and the Den Norske Opera & Ballett.

The 2024 Bergen International Festival opens with a performance that highlights both the writing and the music in the way Ibsen and Grieg always wanted for the Norwegian icon Peer Gynt.

03/07/2023

From 25 May to 4 June, the Town Square turned into the Festival Square! 🪄

The Norwegian Naval Forces Band opened the event series with boom, march and music. The stage was further set for loads of music with Swing'it, Bergendal Barneboogie Band, Kei Solvang and Igor Dunderovic & Marihøne Airlines Band among others.

The Festival Square is made possible by the Grieg Foundation❤

📹 : PUSH

30/06/2023

We are grateful for Lise Davidsen, who has created lifelong memories for many during this year's festival

14/06/2023

With a FiB Fordel membership you can now get your tickets for Mahler's Eighth, which concludes the 2024 Bergen International Festival in Grieghallen. The concerts 4 and 5 June are Edward Gardner's last as chief conductor for the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra (Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester).

Read more here:

Get your tickets today with FiB Fordel membership. 

06/06/2023

'Why is Bergen actually called the Salzburg of the North when Salzburg could be called the Bergen of the South? Here you are one step closer to the future.'

Read the full review from FAZ.NET - Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on this year's Bergen International Festival 📰

Lise Davidsen ist in Bayreuth als Wagner-Sensation gefeiert worden. In ihrer Heimat Norwegen bezaubert sie nun erstmals als Puccini-Sängerin.

03/06/2023

– Davidsen owns her Tosca. It was a seize-the-day performance. We connected, says Xenia Hanusiak from Classical Voice North America on Bergen International Festival. Read the full review here.

BERGEN – An enduring past-present-future feeling marks Bergen's international festival, where city jewels such as the Philharmonic and Camerata Bergen are on display. This year, the Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen sang the title role in Tosca.

02/06/2023

Luna Composition Lab hosted a concert that marked an extraordinary milestone for the young composers Sara Sørbye Visel and Madeline Clara Cheng. It was an occasion where their original works were performed for the very first time.

02/06/2023

The performer in the show Plock! painted the whole room through dance, acrobatics and humour 🤩

📸 Thor Brødreskift

02/06/2023

Alma Serafin Kraggerud held a violin concert in the grand hall of Harald Sæverud's home Siljustøl 🎻

📸 Thor Brødreskift

02/06/2023

The artist behind this year's Festival Exhibition, Camille Norment, also held a concert in Håkonshallen.

📸 Synne Sofi Bårdsdatter Bønes

02/06/2023

The contemporary circus company, Circa, impressed both children and adults with acrobatic stunts and dance ⭐️

📸 Thor Brødreskift

02/06/2023

Christian Wallumrød held a concert in Harald Sæverud's home Siljustøl 🖤

📸Thor Brødreskift

02/06/2023

See the pictures from the Sunday brunch! 🧺

02/06/2023

Sara Parkman made a mystical, primordial vibe somewhere between a farm and a nightclub at Kulturhuset i Bergen during Bergen International Festival 🤩

📸 Synne Sofi Bårdsdatter Bønes

02/06/2023

The Norwegian Soloists' Choir Academy filled up Håkonshallen with music hand picked by this year's artist in residence, Lise Davidsen 🖤

📸 Synne Sofi Bårdsdatter Bønes

02/06/2023

Nils Bech with dancers from The Norwegian National Ballet at The National Stage in Bergen ✨

02/06/2023

Daði Freyr on Kulturhuset i Bergen as part of Bergen International Festival ⭐️

📸 Synne Sofi Bårdsdatter Bønes

02/06/2023

We're very saddened to learn that the great Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho has passed away.❤️
Her publisher Chester Music announced the news earlier today.

Kaija Saariaho (1952–2023) was our festival composer and artist in residence in 2017, and the Bergen International Festival has presented a number of her works, including the opera L'amour de loin. In this little video portrait made when she was festival composer, she says: ’You give everything of yourself. ... I think one should take this path in life only if one cannot live without it.’

Video: Smau media