The world premiere of "Te Deum with five poems and a hymn by Jon Fosse" should have been in april, but due to Covid-19 it was cancelled and put out in time. But now Tønsberg cathedral choir and conductor Nina T. Karlsen are ready to perform the piece in the cathedral, on september 27. at 19:00. They perform togehter with organist Otto Cristian Odland, the soprano Ditte Maria Bræin, the barytone Eirik Krokfjord as well as four horn players.
Te Deum is one of the olders christian hymns, dated back to 4th or 5th century. The song of praise has been attributed to Ambrose, men the origin is uncertain. The hymn has followed the christian church, and is among other places sung in cathedrals and monastries as a part of Matins every morning.
I have chosen to combine the latin text with new, norwegian poems written by the world famous playwright Jon Fosse. His world of images and simple, direct language contribute to pulling these classical texts  a little closer to us today, as well as giving a more relevant spirituality to the composision as a whole.

"Where day is the brother og night"
This oratory, composed by Henrik Ødegaard in 2002 with lyrics written by Laila Stien have now been recorded, conducted by Bjørn Andor Drage. Singers are Vokal Nord, conducted by Bjørn Andor Drage.
The lyrics are inspired by interview Stien and Ødegaard made in with people in Troms and Finnmark. They are performed in kven, sami and norwegian.  

See: Vokal Nord

The latvian womens choir BALTA have come together with Schola cantorum VOX IUBILANTIS, and they will perform two concerts with Henrik Ødegard's music. On the 6th of march they sing in St. Mary Magdalene's Church, Riga, and the 10th march in Bruknas church. "Balta" is conducted by Māra Marnauza, "Vox iubilantis" by Laina Tabora. They will perform 9 of Ødegaard's CANTUS-compositions, created during the years 2001- 2015. These are smaller pieces in wich a female schola and a traditional womens choir unite, and where the shola are the leaders in the rhytmic aspects of the performance.

Saturday 10th march Ghislain Gourvennec shall give world performance to Henrik Ødegaards composition "The Last Words" in Skien church. The piece is based on the seven last words from Jesus on the cross, and the seven movements have a duration of 25 minutes. Gourvennec also performs "Weinen, klagen, sorgen sagen" by Franz Liszt.

Welcome!

Saturday the 4th november will the female choir "Kammerpikene" give world premiere to "Eit nynorsk rekviem" i Sortland kirke, Norway. Later the same day the concert will be repeated in Hadsel church, and the day after in Trondenes kirke close to Harstad, this concert as a part of Trondenesdagene.

The new composition, with lyrics by Jon Fosse, is intended to be performed together with the Requiem of Gabriel Faure.

Medvirkende:
Karoline Åseng, soprano solo
Henrik Sand Dagfinrud, barytone solo
Cellists from "Cellolyd": Synnove Volden, Tove Margrethe Erikstad, Lisa Isabel Holstad, Kristine Solberg
Double bass: Guro Stigen Kvannli
Harmonium: Nikolai Arctander Karlsen
Conductor: Hege Monica Eskedal

The oratory "Der dagen er nattens bror" from 2002 will be performed on different places in the north of Norway in october:

October 24, 2017 at 19:00 in Kirkenes church
October 25, 2017 at 19:00 in Vadsø church
October 26, 2017 at 19:00 in Karasjok church
October 27,  2017 at 18:00 in "The Northern Light Cathredal", Alta
October 28, 2017 at 18:00 in Grønnåsen church, Tromsø
The tour also includes a CD production
The performers are singers from "Vokal Nord" conducted by Bjørn Andor Drage and an orchestra with musicians from the north of Norway
See Vokal Nord

Choeur grégorian de Paris - Voix de femmes and the organist Henrik de Rohan work on a cd-production with music written by Charles Touremire and Henrik Ødegaard, alongside with traditional gregorian tunes. The cd will be named "Easter", and the music is presented on a concert the 17. of june in the St. Germain l'Auxerrois-church in Paris. Conductor: Olga Roudakova.