EarRelevant Staff | 20 MAY 2024
OSLO, Norway— The Kon-Tiki Chamber Music Festival will bring a blend of Norwegian and international musical talents to the heart of Oslo from May 23 to May 25, 2024. Under the co-direction of siblings Julie and David Coucheron, the festival promises a vibrant lineup of concerts at the Norsk Maritimt Museum.
In addition to violinist David Coucheron and pianist Julie Coucheron, this year’s featured musical artists will include cellist Sandra Lied Haga, pianist Håvard Gimse, violinist Christopher Tun Andersen, violist Ida Bryhn.
The festival kicks off on May 23 with a free family concert at noon, featuring beloved musical tales “Ferdinand the Bull” and “Paddington Bear’s First Concert,” narrated by acclaimed Norwegian actress Sølje Bergman.
The day continues with the official opening concert at 6 p.m., showcasing works by Fritz Kreisler, Franz Schubert, Edvard Grieg, and Felix Mendelssohn. Highlights include Schubert’s Fantasy in F Minor and Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No. 2 in C Minor, performed by pianist Håvard Gimse, violinist David Coucheron, and cellist Sandra Lied Haga.
On May 24, festival-goers can enjoy a unique “Meet the Artistic Directors” concert, where the Coucherons will perform sonatas by Beethoven and Grieg, as well as Franz Waxman’s “Carmen Fantasy.” This marks the first time the duo has performed an entire Festival concert together since they became artistic directors in 2011.
The festival concludes on May 25 with an afternoon concert, “Known and Unknown Romantic Pearls.” The program includes Robert Schumann’s “Fantasy Pieces” with violist Ida Bryhn and piano quintets by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Antonin Dvorak. The festival’s finale will feature Dvorak’s “Piano Quintet in A Major,” renowned for its rich, lyrical beauty.
Held at the scenic Norsk Maritimt Museum, attendees can reach the venue by bus (line 30 to Bygdøy, with a stop at Norsk Maritimt Museum), car, bicycle, or on foot. Private and street parking, as well as bicycle parking, are available.
Co-directors Julie and David Coucheron, who reside in Atlanta, Georgia (USA), where David is concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Julie is an in-demand classical pianist, express their excitement for this year’s festival and the joy of connecting with audiences through an eclectic mix of classical masterpieces.
“This is our thirteenth year arranging the Kon-Tiki Chamber Music Festival,” says Julie Coucheron, “and we are thrilled to present this festival in our home country, Norway!”
Looking ahead, she also says that the 2025 Kon-Tiki Chamber Music Festival dates have already been set for June 12-14, 2025. The Coucherons invite music lovers planning a European trip to consider adding Oslo and the 2025 Kon-Tiki Festival to their itinerary. ■
For more information, visit kontikiklassisk.no/en/
Festivalinformasjon på norsk: kontikiklassisk.no
Kon-Tiki Chamber Music Festival 2024 Concerts
- Thursday, May 23 • at 12:00 noon
Free children and family concert (limited seating)
Sølje Bergman, narrator; David Coucheron, violin; Julie Coucheron, piano.
Alan RIDOUT: Ferdinand the Bull
Herbert CHAPPELL: Paddington Bear’s first concert - Thursday, May 23 • at 6 pm
Opening concert: “Strings vs. Pianists!”
David Coucheron, violin; Sandra Lied Haga, cello; Håvard Gimse, piano; Julie Coucheron, piano.
Fritz KREISLER: Preludium and Allegro in the style of Pugnani
Franz Schubert: Fantasy in f-minor D.940
Edvard Grieg: Norwegian Dances Op. 35, Nos. 2 & 4
Felix Mendelssohn: Piano Trio no. 2 in c-minor - Friday, May 24 • at 6 pm
“Meet the Artistic Directors”
David Coucheron, violin; Julie Coucheron, piano.
Johannes BRAHMS: Sonatensatz (Scherzo) Op. Post. for violin and piano
Ludvig van BEETHOVEN: Sonate for violin and piano in D major, Op. 12, no. 1
Edvard GRIEG: Sonate for violin and piano No. 2 in G-Major, Op. 13
Franz WAXMAN: Carmen Fantasy - Saturday, May 25 • at 3 pm
“Known and unknown romantic pearls”
David Coucheron & Christopher Tun Andersen, violins; Ida Bryn, viola; Sandra Lied Haga, cello; Julie Coucheron, piano.
Robert SCHUMANN: Fantasistykker Op. 73
Samuel COLERIDGE-TAYLOR: Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 1
Antonín DVOŘÁK: Piano Quintet in A-Major, Op. 81
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Kon-Tiki Chamber Music festival: kontikiklassisk.no/en
- Julie & David Coucheron: davidandjuliecoucheron.com
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