The festival day began at Noraker Gård, where soprano Hanne Marit Mordal Iversen, clarinetist Björn Nyman, and pianist Revaz Abramia invited audiences into a richly varied programme featuring works by composers such as Louis Spohr, Rebecca Clarke, Fanny Mendelssohn, and Benjamin Britten.
Festival Opens to a Full Amphitheatre
Valdres sommersymfoni got this year’s festival off to a vibrant start, featuring concerts across a variety of genres, an art exhibition, and opportunities for audiences to connect with musicians at venues throughout Valdres.
In the scenic surroundings of Aurdal, the warm sound of the clarinet came particularly into its own. Throughout the concert, Iversen’s singing and Nyman’s clarinet took centre stage, supported by Abramia’s sensitive piano playing. Sigurd Sverdrup Sandmo guided the audience through the programme, placing the works in a broader musical context. He highlighted how the concert explored the relationship between text, voice, and sound across a century of music history, from the Romantic songs of Louis Spohr to the modernist expressions of Benjamin Britten.
A Meeting of Masters at Bergergården
The festival’s opening day also celebrated the visual arts as Valdres Art Society opened the exhibition A Meeting of Masters: Årseth and Ulven at Bergergården.
Sigmund Årseth’s bold and richly coloured floral paintings evoke an immediate sense of summer, while Endre Ulven’s works present a different side of Valdres through a more subdued expression rooted in place and landscape. Together, the two artistic voices create a compelling dialogue.
Among those attending the opening was Ingebjørg Årseth, the widow of Sigmund Årseth. Visitors also enjoyed a performance by violinist Atle Sponberg, who presented music by Bach alongside an improvisation on the Solo Sonata in E major.
Herborg Kråkevik Opens the Festival
Later in the day Herborg Kråkevik and the Trondheim Soloists took the stage for the festival’s official opening.
Kråkevik shone as both singer and storyteller. Between songs from Vi vandrar saman i Herborgs songbok (We Walk Together in Herborg’s Songbook) she shared reflections and anecdotes about love, life, community, war, and peace. Some stories moved the audience, while others sparked laughter, but each flowed naturally into the music that followed.
Accompanied by the Trondheim Soloists, both the lyrics and melodies gained added depth and resonance. The opening concert became a warm and intimate experience, creating a strong sense of connection between the performers and the audience.
Jazz and Classical Music
The festival day concluded at Trykkeriet Cultural Arena, where Rohey Taalah and the Trondheim Soloists gave a concert marked by intimacy and emotional depth.
Rohey presented a programme in which love, grief, and hope took centre stage. Through her songs and personal stories, she spoke about missing her father and about holding on to faith in peace in an unsettled world. Martin Myhre Olsen, who had arranged most of the works performed during the concert, was among those in the audience. Just two days later, he and Rohey Taalah would be married.
For many in attendance, this was their first encounter with the award-winning artist. The performance left a lasting impression, and her interpretation of What a Wonderful World captured the spirit of the evening: finding beauty and hope even in the midst of sorrow, uncertainty, and loss.
All photos: Thor Brødreskift
Watch the video from Day 1 of the Festival:
