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Festspillene Music Festival in Elverum
Nearly all of the most
acclaimed musicians in
Norway have one thing
in common – they have at
some point held a prominent
role in the Norwegian
National Youth Orchestra,
Ungdomssymfonikerne,
during the Festspillene
Festival in the musical
city of Elverum.
The acoustics in
the big halls are
impressive and
provide a very
special musical
experience.
For ten days every year, they and other
artists at the festival deliver more than
50 first-rate musical performances.
– There was a need for an arena for
young, talented musicians in Norway. A
place to meet, to put it simply, says Ørnulf
Ring, managing director of Festspillene Fes-
tival. It was also a chance for the audience
to discover the young musicians we have
here in Norway.
Already the following year, the event
gained festival status and it has grown ever
since, turning into the most important
musical happening of the year in Norway.
Today, there are roughly 200 musicians
participating in the festival, attracting an
audience of over 15,000 people every year.
The Festspillene Festival also includes a
series of chamber music performed on some
of the country estates in the area.
–The acoustics in the big halls are
impressive and provide a very special
musical experience, says Ørnulf. These
country estates are not usually open to
the public, so it is exciting and completely
unique.
Talented young
musicians
Festspillene
Music Festival in
Elverum
70 | NATURALLY
