Look past icons such as The Scream and Madonna and discover lesser known (but just as fascinating) paintings by the master of expressionism. Personally I have a soft spot for those paintings inspired by Åsgårdstrand, a little seaside village where Munch spent many a summer – Moonlight, Train Smoke, Girls on the Bridge, Melancholy, The Voice, the list goes on. Do check out Munch’s woodcuts and lithographs too, which give a great insight into the man behind the artist. Self-portrait with Skeleton Arm for example is as striking as any of his oil paintings in my opinion. The Munch Museum in Tøyen, Oslo, houses the largest collection of works by Edvard Munch. The good news? Entry is free in winter (1 Oct-31 Mar). Rest of the year Kr95. Opening times vary, see www.munch.museum.no for more info.

Did you know? Edvard Munch’s mother, Laura Cathrine Bjølstad, was born in Fredrikstad, Østfold, in 1837. She married Edvard’s father, Christian Munch, in 1861. He was twice her age. They had five children together, including Edvard, before Laura died of tuberculosis in 1868. She was only 31 years old. Edvard was five. His mother’s premature death, which was followed by that of his favourite sister a few years later, was to have a profound impact on his life and career.

Forgotten gem: Fertility, painted in the late 1890s. Showing a much happier side of Munch’s work, this large scale painting (120 x 140 cm) has mainly remained in private collections in Scandinavia, and made only occasional appearances in a few European and US museum and galleries (as well as at Christie’s auction last year, where it was estimated at US$25-35 million – no buyer was found). A colourful scene depicting a young couple by a tree – a reference to Adam and Eve and the tree of life?

Check out this video featuring a selection of Åsgårdstrand paintings, as well as some black and white photographs of the Vestfold village (Norwegian only)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un4H1p1SmJ8

I was born here in 1974, and have lived most of my life in Fredrikstad, the last three in Gamlebyen. My father is Spanish and my mother is Norwegian. I have two boys, so when I’m not playing music, I hang out with them.

I got my first guitar when I was 10, but didn’t start playing until I was 17. I started playing in a hardcore band called My Right Choice 15 years ago. Soon the musical inspiration from my childhood took over, however. Simon & Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen, Elvis, Bob Marley, classical music and of course different types of Latin music became my references when I wrote my songs.

I’ve never called myself a singer or a guitarist. I just wanted to create little melodies and play along with friends. I have a full-time job – and I’m very happy with that. I work as a culture consulent and my office is located in Gamlebyen as well. Which means I hardly have to leave this place!

I have had a single out before, ‘Songs for Sunday morning’, and an album, ‘Whatever’, with a band called Sunday Morning. This new project is called ‘Gamlebyen’ and our first CD ‘Tangood’ is in the shops now. Basically we are just a group of friends who wanted to make a CD. We rehearsed a couple of times, and just started recording. The official release was yesterday (17 Jan 2011), so we don’t know much about sales yet.

It’s hard to say what I love the most about living in the Old Town. Maybe watching my son going down the ramparts with the sledge in winter, or sitting on a bench watching all the people on the market in the summertime. And of course Månefestivalen*, or just taking a beer with a friend in Tamburen**. I can go on and on…

Gamlebyen, Tangood is available from good record shops in Norway, and from www.platekompaniet.no, 169Kr for the CD, or 79Kr for a MP3 download (10 songs)

* Månefestivalen (Gamlebyen’s most popular festival, taking place in the Old Town every year in late July)

** Tamburen (the bar at the back of Restaurant Major Stuen, a popular place with outdoor sitting in summer.

- 4 Dec Christmas concert with Rita Eriksen in Immanuel’s Church, Halden. 6pm, 325Kr (tickets from Brygga Kultursal) www.bryggakultursal.no

- 5 Dec Christmas concert in Hvaler Church (free)

- 5 Dec Concert with the Nordic Tenors in Brygga Kultursal, Halden. 6pm and 8.30pm, 375Kr. www.bryggakultursal.no

- 5 Dec Hanne Krogh and the three tenors in Fredrikstad Cathedral. 6.30pm, 340Kr. www.billettservice.no

- 6 Dec Hanne Krogh and the three tenors in Moss Church. 6.30pm, 340Kr. www.billettservice.no

- 7 Dec Christmas concert with Erik-André Hvidsten in Sarpsborg Church. 7pm, 245Kr. www.billettservice.no

- 7 Dec Christmas concert with the Oslo Gospel Choir in Askim kulturhus, Askim. 7pm, 400Kr. www.billettluka.no

- 9 Dec Christmas concert with Erik-André Hvidsten in Østre Fredrikstad Church, Gamlebyen. 7pm, 245Kr. www.billettservice.no

- 9 Dec Det Norske Blåseensemble (the Norwegian Wind Ensemble) play Handel’s Messiah in Immanuel’s Church, Halden. 7pm, 150-200Kr. http://billett24.no/ (or on the door)

- 10 Dec Pre-Christmas concert in Eidsberg Church (free)

- 10 Dec ‘Stille Natt, Hellige Natt’ concert in Jeløy Church, Moss. 6pm, 328Kr. www.billettservice.no

- 17 Dec ‘Julenatt’ concert with Rein Alexander in Glemmen Church, Fredrikstad. He is accompanied by 14-year-old Martin Enger Holm. 6pm, 320Kr. www.billettservice.no

- 18 Dec ‘Julenatt’ with Rein Alexander in Tune Church. Same as above. 6pm, 320Kr. www.billettservice.no

- 19 Dec Parkteatret’s big Christmas concert in Moss. Profits go to Save the Children. 7pm, 250Kr. www.parkteatret.com

- 19 Dec Christmas concert in the potato cellar in Røed Gård, Jeløya. Awaiting info.

- 19 Dec Christmas concert with the Hvaler Trivselskor in Spjærøy Church (free)

- 20 Dec ‘A Christmas festival’ concert in Fredrikstad Cathedral. With Norwegian pop idol Didrik Solli -Tangen and the Østfold Symphony Orchestra. 7pm and 9pm, 280Kr. www.billettservice.no

- 21 Dec ‘Stille Natt, Hellige Natt’ concert in Tune Church. 9.30pm, 328Kr. www.billettservice.no

Sissel has since then lived up to her earlier promise, and is widely recognised as one of Norway’s foremost artists. Highlights of her career include singing the Olympic Hymn at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer; duets with stars such as Plácido Domingo, Charles Aznavour, José Carreras, and Dee Dee Bridgewater, among others; and her participation on the Titanic film soundtrack. Sissel received her first Grammy nominations in 2007 for a collaboration with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Her combined solo record sales (not including soundtracks and other albums to which she contributed) amount to 10 million albums, most of them sold in Norway, a country with 4.7 million people. More info about Sissel at www.sissel.net

From the producers:

As young children, half-siblings Axel and Yanne are adopted to Norway. They are separated on arrival, he to material wealth on Oslo’s west side, she to an average family on the east side. In contrast to her younger brother, Yanne remembers their journey to Norway, but she has no idea where he might be now. All this is about to change, however, as Yanne’s Polish friend Maria starts working as a maid for Axel’s parents, there discovering a photograph of a young boy. Maria has seen the same picture on the wall of Yanne’s flat. She decides to reunite them. But before having time to realize the consequences, she sets in motion a chain of events which throws many people into emotional turmoil.