Edward Gardner lifts Edvard Grieg Kor to new height
In 2021, thanks to the vision and generosity of Grieg Foundation, Edvard Grieg Kor began a long-term artistic collaboration with Maestro Edward Gardner OBE, a conductor of the highest international level. This exciting development represents something completely new in Norwegian musical life. The formidable combination of Edvard Grieg Kor under the baton of Maestro Edward Gardner will be a very attractive prospect for the artistic programming of both National and International venues, promoting further the richness, broadness and enviable quality of Bergen’s cultural footprint, and firmly rooting Edvard Grieg Kor as one of the major and key actors in Norway’s cultural sector.
Edvard Grieg Kor with 16-24 voices led by chief conductor Edward Gardner performs in its own concert series regionally, nationally, and internationally. Edvard Grieg Kor was already a vital resource to our main collaborative partners, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and Bergen National Opera, for whom Edvard Grieg Kor provides and manages all choral requirements. Together with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Edvard Grieg Kor has in recent years achieved recognition both in Norway and internationally and won prestigious Gramophone awards, including 'Recording of the year' for "Peter Grimes". In addition to these commitments, Edvard Grieg Kor is a highly valued resource for Festspillene and KODE.
Edward Gardner is Chief Conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra and has previously been music director at both the English National Opera and the Glyndebourne Touring Opera. He is one of the most sought-after conductors of our time, with regular engagements at major opera houses such as the Metropolitan Opera in New York and at festivals such as the BBC Proms.
«Edvard Grieg Kor is central to the music-making in Bergen; ever since I’ve been in the city I’ve been struck by the brilliance, versatility and passion of the group. It’s a great privilege to have a role with these wonderful singers, and I look very much forward to a wide-ranging exploration of choral music!” - Edward Gardner.
For the professional singers in Edvard Grieg Kor this is a unique opportunity to be challenged and continue to improve and develop their already considerable skills and musicianship. This incredibly rare opportunity to have one of the worlds most accomplished and sought-after conductors leading Edvard Grieg Kor’s professional singers will firmly anchor the choir’s reputation in the field of classical choral singing and can only serve to further elevate Bergen’s status and enviable reputation in the cultural sector both nationally and internationally.
"This is a dream come true for us, standing in a 16-part vocal ensemble with Edvard Gardner at the front. When he walks into the rehearsal room the atmosphere changes, everyone wants to give him the best that they possibly can. Even though the music is often extremely technically challenging, he is always able to make the group sound fantastic and really create music out of it, as a result of him being so inspiring, and out of the love for the music. He has the ability to see everyone in the choir and make us all feel recognised, and he gives us the feeling that he knows each one in the group and knows what each of us is able to create with our voices.” - singer in Edvard Grieg Kor.
The fruits of this constant development can in turn be passed down to the younger singers in EGK’s junior choirs, but crucially it serves to inform and improve the quality of the performances at the professional level. Our collaborative partners are then able to demand more and more from us every season in terms of activity and quality. We will therefore continually strive for the next level of excellence and achievement professionally. There is no more effective way for us to achieve excellence than to work alongside the best and most accomplished artists in the world, and to grasp every opportunity to do that whenever possible.
This collaboration between Edward Gardner and Edvard Grieg Kor is a three-year project that includes six concerts in total. The hope is that this unique opportunity can continue beyond the initial period. "This is a fantastically exciting development for Edvard Grieg Choir and reflects the tireless commitment and the quality of performances we have seen from the singers in recent years. For Bergen as a city of culture, this will mean another feather in the cap." - Simon Kirkbride, General Director of Stiftelsen Edvard Grieg Korene.
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