Culture
Norwegian film tops UK DVD sales
For the first time ever, a Norwegian film was at the very top of the sales list for DVD/Blue-ray in the U.K. last week. The Troll Hunter (Trolljegeren) sold more than 35,000 copies in only a few days.
"It is sensational that a Norwegian film is at the top of the sales chart for DVD/Blue-ray in the U.K," producer John M. Jacobsen tells NRK. He also thinks it is a sensation that a film with subtitles has been able to climb to the very top of the list.
"We are happy and proud that with this, yet another milestone has been achieved for Norwegian film abroad," Jacobsen stated in a press release.
Source: Norway Post
100% Norway
100% Norway returns to this year's London Design Festival with a fresh selection of exciting new works from Norway's emerging design talent and leading interiors manufacturers. Now in its eighth year, 100% Norway continues its mission to present the best of Norwegian design to an international audience. The 2011 exhibition promises to be the most impressive and inspiring collection yet, presenting a diverse mix of furniture, ceramics, lighting and tableware never previously shown in the UK.
Win a trip to Oslo's Øya Festival!
The Norwegian Embassy in London is giving music fans the chance to win a trip for two to Oslo, Norway, to see Pulp, Q-Tip, Fleet Foxes, Jamie XX, Janelle Monáe, Aphex Twin and Kaizers Orchestra plus plenty more at Øya Festival, Norway's biggest and greenest summer music festival!
Get ready to party amongst the picturesque ruins of the medieval town of Oslo; complete with four outdoor stages and 30 club venues, festival-goers can literally swim from stage to stage in the chilled Norwegian waters, the perfect antidote to a hot day of dancing.
The competition is set to launch today to mark the Norwegian Constitution Day, and will run until 27th June, on the Norwegian Embassy in UK's Facebook profile.
The Øya Festival prize includes:
Return flights for two, London to Oslo with airliner Norwegian, 11-14th August
Three nights hotel accommodation at the new and stylish Comfort Hotel Xpress, Oslo
Two tickets for three days of music at Øya Festival, in Oslo, Norway, 11 - 13th August
Two VIP Oslo Passes from VisitOslo, which offers free museum entrance, public transport and other city discounts
To enter, simply visit www.facebook.com/NorwegianEmbassyUK.
Two Norwegian films at Edinburgh Film Festival
The Edinburgh International Film Festival features two Norwegian films; ‘King of Devil's Island' is based on a true story from the brutal uprising at Bastøy reform school for unprivileged young boys. The other movie, ‘Troll Hunter', is a mock doc about the Norwegian government's deepest secret: Trolls.
King of Devil's Island (Kongen av Bastøy) The film is based on a true story from the brutal uprising at Bastøy reform school for underprivileged boys, located in the Oslo fjord. It is a cold, Norwegian winter in the early 20th century. The school board is a sadistic regime, and in stead of educating the boys they are used as cheap, manual labour. Stellan Skarsgård plays the condescending school governor who turns a blind eye to obvious abuse whilst administering brutal punishment to his unfortunate young charges. The boys attempt to survive by adapting to their inhumane conditions, but one day a new boy, Erling (17), arrives with his own agenda; how to escape from the island. How far is he willing to go to attain freedom?
Troll Hunter (Trolljegeren) Why do we not believe in trolls? The answer is that it is effectively hidden by the Norwegian government. The secret is soon to be discovered by a group of students filming their first documentary about a series of unlawful bear shootings. Thomas and his camera crew repeatedly run into mysterious loner Hans, who they decide to follow. Unwisely, as it happens, for Hans works for the top secret Troll Security Service, and a rogue Ringlefinch is on the loose. The film is filled with humour and witty comments and parallels to old myths about trolls. In well known Blair Witch Project style the thrilling mock documentary is ready to persuade you that trolls' do exists. Are you a Christian? Beware; the trolls can smell your blood!
Norwegian Jazzy tunes at Cheltenham
The Norwegian jazz scene is viewed by many as one of the strongest in Europe, and will once again be featured strongly at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival where the likes of Susanna Wallumrød and Tord Gustavsen will perfrom Susanna Wallumrød has a cool, distinctive voice and with her trio she will perform beautiful originals and highly personal interpretations of well-known songs such as Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah and Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart. As a singer and pianist she has a unique way of making a song her own, and she's said to be one of the most exceptional new voices of recent years.
Norway 11th on FIFA World Ranking
The Norwegian men's national football team under coach Egil "Drillo" Olsen (photo) has gained one place on the January FIFA World Ranking for men, and is now in 11th place.
A year ago, in January 2010, Norway was ranked 32nd. Two years ago, when "Drillo" took over as national coach, Norway was ranked 59th by FIFA. Since then "Drillo"'s men have advanced in leap and bounds, and now there are only 10 national teams ahead of Norway on the ranking.
Denmark is ranked 28th and Sweden 29th.
Source: NorwayPost
All good things come in threes
Three Norwegian acts - Katzenjammer, Sivert Høyem and Harrys Gym - have been invited to perform at HMV's Next Big Thing festival which aims to showcase emerging talents from different musical genres. With over 100 artists to perform at eight venues, the event brings together a massive array of musical talents in the start of their international career. Is this the event that will lead to their international breakthrough?
Icy concert at Somerset Houset
Using instruments made out of ice, Norwegian composer and instrumentalist Terje Isungset will be giving unique live performances in an urban igloo by the Somerset House ice rink in January.
Isungset will be giving three concerts a day at Somerset House's Riverside Terrace, playing ice horns, an iceophone and ice percussion, accompanied by Norwegian singer Lena Nymark. The instruments are all carved from solid blocks of ice brought from the mountains of Norway, some even from ancient glaciers. They are extremely fragile, and the performances therefore last for 30 minutes each only.
An evocative sound and video installation will also be on display in the space, meant to ‘transport the visitors deep into the Ideas of North'. Created by Phil Slocombe from Lumen media organisation, the installation aims to give people a distinctive experience of the Nordic climate and surroundings by projecting archive footage recorded by Mariele Neudecker for Opera North's Winterreise (2003) onto the inside walls of the venue.
"We hope that the fragile nature of the instruments, as well as the opportunity to explore the sounds and sights of the Arctic and beyond, provide an opportunity for reflection as well as inspiration as part of this very special event." the organisers say.
Isungset, named ‘Jazz Musician and Composer of the Year in Norway', is one of Europe's most accomplished and creative percussionists today. Born in Geilo, 1964, the artist has over 20 years of experience in jazz, and is known around the world for taking music far beyond traditional boundaries, particularly with his use of self-made instruments of natural elements such as birch, granite, slate, and ice. Isgunset has previously recorded no less than eight solo CDs, and will release his latest ice music album, ‘Meditiations', in January next year.
Source: Norwegian Embassy (UK)
a-ha's last ever UK tour
Even though it's heartbreaking news, we have to let you know that a-ha, Norway's multi-million selling purveyors of instant pop gems, returns to the UK in November for their last ever UK arena tour following the announcement that the band will split at the end of this year.
Source: Norwegian Embassy (UK)
Norway tops happiness index
The Legatum Prosperity Index, the world's only global assessment of wealth and wellbeing, has ranked Norway as number 1 in a list of the world's most successful countries.
Norway is follwed by its neighbours Denmark and Findland in second and third position. The UK is ranked 13th. Legatum, a London-based think tank, said the success of the Nordic countries in the ranking was partly due to the recent ‘economic liberalisation' of the region where authorities have been ‘freeing up their labour markets and slashing government spending'.
The survey covers around 90 per cent of the world's population and takes into account factors that contribute to overall prosperity; including education standards, health, safety, security, personal freedom and democracy.
Unlike other studies that rank countries by actual levels of wealth, life satisfaction or development, the Legatum Prosperity Index produces rankings based upon the very foundations of prosperity - those factors that help drive economic growth and produce happy citizens over the long term.
100% Norway 2010
The design exhibition 100% Norway will once again showcase the best of Norwegian furniture and interior products during the London Design Festival at 100% Design, Earls Court, from 23 to 26 September.
Building on the success of previous years, 100% Norway 2010 will showcase works of both established and up-and-coming designers, and feature a number of the country's leading manufacturers. This will be the seventh time the exhibition visits London to act as a door opener for Norwegian designers and manufacturers to the British market and simultaneously build awareness of Norwegian design in the UK and internationally.
For the fifth year in a row, the show has been curated by Henrietta Thompson, design editor with Wallpaper* magazine, along with co-curator Benedicte Sunde from the Norwegian Design Council.
Source: Norway.org.uk
Free tickets for Masha Vahdat concert!
Celebrated Iranian singer Masha Vahdat is performing at the Free Word FLOW Festival along with Norwegian guitarist Knut Reiersrud and Norwegian record producer and lyricist Erik Hillestad this Sunday.
Vahdat, who won the 2010 Index on Censorship/Freemuse Award, is well known throughout Europe. In her home country Iran, however, the artist is unable to perform because singing by females is banned according to the laws of the Islamic Republic.
This is a unique opportunity to hear Vahdat present a concert of songs inspired by the classical poems of Persian poets Hafez and Rumi. Her unique style, based on the Persian vocal tradition, blends well with blues man Reiersrud's music. The two will be joined by Hillestad, who will recite selected verses from the Sufi poems.
Reiersrud, born in Oslo in 1961, is known to most people as a guitarist. Since the beginning of his career, Reierstud has played at 5000 concerts, made more than 100 records and learned to play no less than ten different string instruments. The award-winning artist always travels around with eight guitars, all tuned differently according to where the music comes from.
For free tickets to the event, call 020 7324 2570 and quote ‘Norway'!
Source: Norway.org.uk
Donatella's favourite returns to LFW
After showing in Milan for two seasons, fashion designer Kristian Aadnevik is ready to make a comeback on the British fashion scene by debuting his S/S 2011 collection during London Fashion Week.
Born in Norway and educated at the Royal College of Art in London, the 32-year-old designer combines the technical knowledge of a skilled couturier with the charm of a screenwriter and Style.com has described him as one of the industries most promising talents.
Aadnevik extensive portfolio includes design positions at Harrods International, Alexander McQueen, Charles Jourdan and most recently Roberto Cavalli. He also holds the prestigious title "Versace protégé" which he earned by being selected by Donatella Versace in a project sponsored by the Australian Wool Innovation.
The new collection will be presented under the auspices of the Norwegian Ambassador, Kim Traavik, in London at his residence in Kensington on Monday 20 September. Supporting Aaadnevik at the fashion show will be Norwegian DJs Annie and Mikal Telle.
Source: Norway.org.uk
Norwegian Chamber Orchestra with London concerts
The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra with principal guest director Leif Ove Andsnes will play in the Royal Albert Hall as part of BBC Proms, the world's largest classical music festival, as well as a unique performance at the 100 Club in London's Oxford Street.
Record sale for Munch print
An impression of Edvard Munch's controversial work Madonna has sold for a record £1,252,000 at Bonhams in London - twice its lower estimate of £500,000 and making it the most expensive print ever sold in the UK and the second most expensive print in the world.
Norwegian ‘guerrilla gardening' hits London
Moss Your City, by the Oslo-based architectural practice PUSHAK is the outcome of The Architecture Foundation's international exchange programme for emerging architects in Norway and the UK - launched to promote the best new architects from both countries. Read More.
Norwegian choir to Scotland
One of Norway's most dynamic amateur choirs, Songlaget, will give two concerts in Edinburgh in June.
Songlaget was established in Norway in 1914 and has since become acclaimed and well-known in its genre. The choir's major objective is to preserve and safeguard Norwegian choral and musical traditions. Under the leadership of conductor Brit Karin Wetteland, Songlaget has dedicated itself to learning and presenting authentic, traditional Norwegian folk music - with all its multiplicity. Each singer is encouraged to find and express his or her own individual sound, which enforces the individuality and uniqueness of this Norwegian traditional music. Read More
Norwegian galleries at Collect
Norwegian galleries Galleri Format and Kunst1 will both be represented at this year's Collect, an art fair for contemporary objects that is presented by the Crafts Council at London's Saatchi Gallery. Bringing together selected galleries from around the globe, Collect showcases the very best in decorative and applied arts. Norwegian gallery Kunst1 participates with the 10 talented artists, five ceramists and five jewellers.The second Norwegian gallery at the fair is Galleri Format, which is owned by the Norwegian Association of Arts and Crafts, a national organisation supported by the Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs. Galleri Format will present some of Norway's finest professionals with artistic qualities within ceramic, textile and metal. Read More
Norwegian architects at V&A
The Victoria & Albert Museum has commissioned seven architects at the forefront of experimental design to create their first built structures in the UK, and two of them are from Norway.
Helen & Hard will create a structure for climbing and exploration inspired by play and childhood memory in a corner of the V&A's John Madejski Garden. The architects have carefully selected a number of Norwegian ash trees to be scanned and modelled in 3- D. These will be digitally carved to create seats, slides and hand-holds and then capped with an intricate web of woven willow. Helen & Hard was founded in Norway in 1996 by Siv Helene Stangeland and Reinhard Kropf. Their structure to be displayed at V&A is called ‘Ratatosk'. Read More.
17th May Celebrations in London
The 17th May - Norway's National Day - is a public holiday in Norway and is celebrated extensively by Norwegians all over the world. The main event in London is the gathering in Southwark Park, SE16. Read More
First Norwegian Flower Show at Chelsea
The first ever Norwegian garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May will be a display of environmentally responsible design. The ‘Kebony - Naturally Norway' show garden is the combined vision of designer Darren Saines and Norwegian wood company Kebony. Darren's design philosophy is to create a nature-inspired garden grown to flourish in and resist the diverse Nordic climate with plants chosen for their unusual natural shapes and structures. The garden has been designed to reflect the unique landscape of Norway - from flora and fauna to fjords. Read more
Bands escape to Brighton
The Great Escape festival showcases more than 350 new musicians over three days in Brighton, and this year Norway will participate with five singer-songwriters and bands. Fab Norwegian line-up at the Great Escape festival in Brighton: Ingrid Olava, Simon Says No, Megaphonic Thrift, Katzenjammer and Susanne Sundfør. Get your tickets now! Read More