What comes to mind when you think of Spain?
Sun and beaches? Delicious food and wine? Or perhaps the passionate rhythms and dances?
We can’t promise sandy beaches at Nythun, but we can promise delightful dance rhythms, melancholic melodies, and exquisite flavors – all brought to you by some of the festival’s fantastic musicians: Terje Tønnessen, Christian Ihle Hadland, Atle Sponberg, Ann-Helen Moen, Torun Stavseng and more – at Tapas! – A Fiesta at Nythun.
The evening begins with the young violin talent Frida Gandia Jenssen, who invites you to dance together with Papillon musician Nikita Khnykin. They will perform works by perhaps Spain’s most important composer, Manuel de Falla, including his masterpiece (arr. Fritz Kreisler): Spanish Dance from La vida breve.
Next, several of Falla’s beautiful folk songs arranged for soprano and piano will be presented by Ann-Helen Moen and Christian Ihle Hadland – a duo with a long and impressive collaborative history.
Atle Sponberg then takes us through the heartfelt piece Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Francisco Tárrega, originally written for guitar, followed by a lively Spanish tango by Albéniz (arr. Kreisler) – a melody many will recognize.
There is also an entire section dedicated to Fritz Kreisler, performed by Terje Tønnessen alongside Christian Ihle Hadland. Highlights include Preludium and Allegro, Schön Rosmarin, and Liebesleid – a meeting with one of the country’s most prominent violinists and orchestra leaders over several decades.
In the final section, we are joined by the virtuosic cellist Torun Stavseng, performing Cassadó’s infinitely beautiful Suite for Solo Cello. Christian Ihle Hadland continues with another Spanish gem: Manuel de Falla’s Nocturno, inspired by the night’s mood.
The evening concludes with an energetic finale featuring Papillon musician Andreas Martinsen together with Atle and Christian in Sarasate’s lively Navarra!
And yes – we’ve prepared a little dessert for the journey home! You’ll receive it at Nythun on Saturday, 27 June, 2026, together with our culinary hosts – as always, Marit Nythun Utheim and Jørn Tveiten Utheim.
We sincerely hope you will join us for this Spanish musical journey!
