My final concert here as an inhabitant of my native Lørenskog, tenor Magnus Fremstad, pianist Per Arne Frantzen and I can promise a Very Special Evening indeed in Skårer church. Hallow.
Up there with my most exciting undertakings ever, I will plan, perform and present a Christmas extravaganza alongside my friends in Harde Mottak and an exquisite band. Ribbing.
Whilst embarking upon Die Winterreise is starting to be a familiar path for me, this iteration is brand new. Gregor Meyer’s arrangement for chamber choir, baritone and piano is getting its Norwegian premiere with me, pianist Sveinung Bjelland and Ullern Chamber Choir under Gjermund Brenne’s expert leadership - in Vetle Røsten Granås’ brand new New Norwegian translation, to boot. Drang.
An absolute thrill, my first visit to Inferno will be performing on stage - with Funeral. Christ.
Funeral’s - and indeed my - first gig in Italy, we will be headlining the 2026 Church of Crow festival in Piedmont. Corps.
A piece that opened many exciting doors for me a few years ago, I’m over the moon to be able to reprise Carl Orff’s iconic Carmina Burana alongside Telemark Symphony Orchestra and a massive youth choir from Skien High School. Ego.
Rejoining my friends in SAS Brass Band for their annual extravaganza, I will channel all my bavarian bluster from Max Raabe to Till Lindemann via Franzl Lang (yes, that one). Blow.
I’ll be appearing in Bjørn Erik Haugen’s performance piece After The Event at Losæter gård, in surroundings that may prove to live up to every iota of its post-apocalyptic message. Throe.
Ending the Memorial Festival Week, Daniel Bjørlo, Saphir String Quartet and I will perform Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen and Rückert-lieder in their entirety. Bliss.
Kicking off Larvik Barokk 2025, Schlendrian and Lieschen are percolating it up alongside Øystein Stensheim as the tenor barista. Woof.
Warming up before Larvik Barokk, Schlendrian and Lieschen are checking if there’s anything left on the BWV 211 thermos alongside Nivalis Barokk and Øystein Stensheim as the tenor barista. Scald.
Following up our gig at Gothoom two days before, Funeral’s mini-tour terminates at Escape Metal Bar & Live Club in Vienna. Cimmerian.
My first visit to Slovakia, we’ll be bringing our doldrums and despair to the opening day of Gothoom 2025 in Žemberovce. Woe.
My first gig with Funeral abroad, we will perform our Gospel of Bones set at the warm-up to this year’s Brutal Assault. Erst.
For the second time at Pilestredet Park, I will be blasting the evening with pearls of various varieties, ever increasing in weight, alongside Mary Vaillancourt and Jan-Bjørnar Sture. Task.
Our first gig post Gospel of Bones’ release gig in 2024, Funeral will be bringing doom and dredge to Hjorten Scene supported by Miserate (again) and Paradoomata. Exhume.
Hopefully Undoubtedly with a high bar to follow from the night before, we’ll treat everybody to BWV 11 and BWV 249 for the second time this weekend. Flak.
Returning to relive the events that birthed some of my favourite critiques, I’ll join my good friend Erling Neergård as I encounter BWV 11 and BWV 249 for the first time. Yelp.
I will get to perform this beautiful piece for a fourth time, and then to top it off I’ve been given the massive honour of commiting it to a recording the following days. Massive.
The second round of the weekend, Per Kristian Amundrød, Paulikor and my esteemed co-soloists will no doubt push the boat out something fierce on the Sunday iteration. Bam.
One old warhorse and one new spring chicken, I’ll be performing these two Mozart pieces alongside Per Kristian Amundrød, Paulikor and esteemed soloists in Grünerløkka’s most gorgeous space. Wham.
A welcome return to Fagerborg church, I’ll be brushing the dust off of one of my favourite pieces alongside an absolutely lovely ensemble, ditto choir and terrific soloists. Flash.
A joy and a privilege, Jo and I will bring our Winterreise to my native Lørenskog, in Lørenskog Hus’ absolutely lovely Storstua concert hall. Hearth.
We’re releasing Gospel of Bones, our first album with the current lineup, marking a first metal frontman performance in Oslo for me since Sarpedon at Gamla ten years ago in 2014. Bound.
One of my favourite personas to portray, the sentiments of the baritone solo of Brahms’ Requiem will be performed alongside Ullern chamber choir and conductor Gjermund Brenne - a warmly anticipated collaboration that has been a long time coming. Flush.
For the first time at Pilestredet Park, I will be anointing the evening with some operatic pearls, ever increasing in weight, alongside Ida Gudim and Jan-Bjørnar Sture. Hog.
Getting to relive the joint privilege of the two of us playing together; Ulf and I will bring our joint chanson and aria program to Ulf’s own series in Nordstrand church. Concerted.
A much awaited delight, I will get to revisit this gem courtesy of the travails of my dear friend Lars Sømod - Marcus Berg and I will join a much enlarged choir perform his Requiem again in Copenhagen. Facund.
Following up the absolute treat that was the previous night’s La Traviata, I’ll be given a shot at repairing my role debut as Germont in Bergen National Opera’s Verdi Extravaganza production of La Traviata. Crack.
Following up the absolute treat that was this summer’s Rheingold, I’ll be making my role debut as Germont in Bergen National Opera’s Verdi Extravaganza production of La Traviata. Craic.
It being one of the great privileges reserved for musicians in Norway to play with the phenomenon that is Ulf Nilsen; one of the great privileges Ulf will experience this afternoon is playing chansons and arias with me. Gust.
I’m immensely looking forward to the revival of Henrik Ødegaard’s monumental Te Deum, written over 5 poems and a hymn by Jon Fosse, to be performed in stunning surroundings in Sauherad church. Prudent.
My first foray into the realms of Nibelung, I am delighted to be playing Donner in Opera by the Fjord’s summer production of Das Rheingold conducted by Bergen National Opera. Bang.
Revving up this old success, I’ll once again play Schlendrian in our updated stage production of Bach’s cantata 211 alongside the truly excellent Nivalis Barokk. Perk.
A first for me and a real treat, I’ll be presenting Mussorgsky’s Songs and Dances of Death for the first time with Knut Erik Jensen at the piano - also getting to visit Rosendal Teater for the first time. Outvie.
