Borealis Listening Club #46

The first Borealis Listening Club of the autumn is coming up on Wednesday 27 September 19:00–21:00 – as always with new sounds, heaps of popcorn and delicious beverages!

Look forward to music by organist and composer hero Ruth Bakke, up-and coming sound artist and sculptor Tobias Kvendseth, and lots more! This season we want to hear and talk about the music you listen to. If you’ve heard anything strange, funny, delightfully ugly or downright brilliant lately, send it to us on blc@borealisfestival.no!  

BLC #46

George Lewis in conversation

Legendary composer and academic George Lewis has a new book out. Composing While Black: Afrodiasporic New Music Today, co-edited with Harald Kisiedu tackles the absence of Afrodiasporic representation in the contemporary music field. As part of Ultima in Oslo you can hear Lewis in conversation with our very own Peter Meanwell and Nina Sun Eidsheim about this important book. 

Free event
19 September, 21:00–22:00, Sentralen (Oslo)

Read more on Ultima.no

New season of listening club

Autumn is upon us and so is a new season of the Borealis Listening Club in Studio 207! Set aside the last Wednesday of every month to eat popcorn and listen to crazy music with others. 

This season we want to encourage everyone to share music in these listening sessions – send your wishes to blc@borealisfestival.no, bring a friend, and take part!

BLC #46

YrrY to Hardanger musikkfest

The four compositions from this year’s Borealis Ung Komponist are continuing their journey from Borealis 2023 to Lofthus in beautiful Hardanger and their music festival! Ensemble YrrY and cellist Carmen Bóveda will be in Krossvold Saturday 2 September, to perform the four fresh works of Luke Drozd, Eline Rafteseth, Susanne Xin and Guoste Tamulynaite.

New Managing Director of Borealis: Agnes Hvizdalek

We are thrilled to announce that Agnes Hvizdalek is our new Managing Director! Agnes was born and raised in Austria, and moved to Norway in 2008. She has a background as a performer and composer, with an educational history in cultural management and musicology both in Norway and Austria. Her previous engagement was as project manager for Art Music in the Norwegian music export organisation Music Norway. In addition, she has toured the world as a performing vocalist, with both solo projects and as part of ensembles. She knows the field of experimental music inside out, and has a broad network within Norwegian cultural life through her versatile background. Agnes will officially start on September 1st – we look forward to having her as part of the Borealis team!

Summer Playlist

Summertime is listening time. Hopefully the holidays will bring slower paced days, less clutter, more space to listen and let go. Here’s our easy breezy weird and quirky summer playlist to accompany your time off – whether it’s just an afternoon here and there, or a full month of nothing.

Follow Elina’s project on Instagram

Now you can follow Borealis Artist in Residence Elina Waage Mikalsen‘s journey exploring Sámi experimental music, sonic practices and ways of listening on Instagram! The brand new platform Šuvva is a space for Sámi artists and musicians making sounds from the margins.

Follow now

Are you our new Managing Director?

Borealis is looking for a strategic, committed and creative manager who wants to lead a forward-looking and ambitious cultural organisation.

The Managing Director is the heart of our organisation. The role connects practical overview, financial management and strategic development to deliver an annual music and art festival, and to build competence and audience throughout the year.

Application deadline 16 June!

Read more about the position (Norwegian)

BLC in June – Summer Edition

We always need some new sounds and a little reunion with you all before the summer takes over and invite you to a summer edition of Borealis Listening Club in Studio 207, Wednesday 28 June 19.00–21.00!

We’ll listen to music, and as always pop some golden corn and serve something delicious to drink. More info coming soon – save the date in the meantime!

Facebook event

50 guitars to Borealis 2024

Kim Myhr does special things with guitars and brings his visionary approach to the instrument to Borealis 2024.  For his Borealis commission he will create dynamic physical sound worlds with the help of 50 12 string guitars engaging everyone from rusty guitar heroes, eager high school students and enthusiastic camp fire musicians in Bergen and surrounding area. Kim Myhr is among Norway’s most productive and innovative musicians and composers. His music is based on an orchestral exploration of the guitar and has been nominated for both the Nordic Music Prize and the Norwegian Grammys. Do you like to play the guitar?

Show your interest in taking part in Kim’s commission!