Posts Tagged People
Debut concert at Carnegie Hall today
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature, Photos and videos on October 10, 2010
An interview with Aksel Kolstad
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature on October 10, 2010
Aksel Kolstad (born 22 April 1981) is an award-winning Norwegian composer, pianist, and stand-up comedian. With his unique style, he brings a fresh perspective to classical music, engaging audiences with his on-stage mix of athletics, comedy and music, all presented in very colourful fashion (literally!). He kindly agreed to answer a few questions I put to him before his debut show at Carnegie Hall in New York City today.
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Aksel, you grew up in Fredrikstad in the 1980-1990s. What was it like?
A lot of ‘jantelov’*, which I finally defeated, but great nature and a loving family that made me who I am today – fearless and entertaining. I watched the DJ Cat show a lot on Sky. God knows how I miss that cat!
You are now based in New York. How did you end up there?
Actually I am based in Oslo, but have apartments in both Tallinn and New York. So I travel a lot and yes, I am very much in NYC. If you want to get somewhere in the entertaining industry, you need to blossom in NYC. Then Japan. So next stop is Japan.
You are playing at Carnegie Hall today, not a bad achievement for a kid from Østfold. How do you feel about that?
I am already planning my second performance there 
You have a well documented fascination for George Gershwin. What appeals to you so much about his work?
He takes the best out of two genres. That is what I love to do. To pick something apart, and put something new together.
And back home, are there any Norwegian musicians-composers you look up to?
Alive: Wolfgang Plagge. Dead: Geirr Tveitt.
Your style, mixing humour and music, is quite unique. Why this approach?
When you laugh, you are more open to new things. My music is contemporary, so I figured I’d give the crowd a good laugh first. Besides, I’m funny to look at, so then I just do what I am best at. Being funny and playing my own music.
How often do you come back to Fredrikstad?
I’m there as often as possible. At least once a month!
What do you like best about the town?
Verdensspeilet!**
And about Østfold?
The nature.
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Read more about Aksel Kolstad at www.akselkolstad.com and about his Cafe de Concert concept at www.cafedeconcert.no
*Jantelov: Definition at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jante_Law
** Verdensspeilet: Fredrikstad’s most popular cafe www.elusivemoose.eu/2009/11/verdensspeilet-fredrikstad/
Grete Prytz Kittelsen (1917-2010)
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature on October 4, 2010
The grande dame of Norwegian design, Grete Prytz Kittelsen, died last month in Oslo, aged 93. But her legacy endures.
Educated at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry (where her dad, Jakob Tostrup Prytz, worked as rector) and at the Institute of Design in Chicago, Kittelsen went on to become one of the most talented designers of her generation. Maybe it was in her genes. She was the fifth generation of goldsmith in the J. Tostrup family firm. Famed for her silver and enamel work, particularly her kitchenware, she was one of the best-known Norwegians in the Scandinavian Design movement.
Kittelsen wanted to bring good design to the masses by making jewellery and everyday objects people could afford, and she pioneered the use of large-scale manufacturing methods later used by industrial designers. She was also known to improvise and make her own tools, using for example a dentist bore to draw on silver, and to create works so big she had to use ovens designed to fire bathtubs.
Kittelsen studied in the US, and her work kept taking her back to the States. Unsurprisingly maybe, her designs were often inspired by American art, characterized by clear, plain colours and simple shapes. Her Lotus enamel bowls, produced in Cathrineholm in Halden, Østfold, in the 1960s, sold in their millions. Today they are collectors’ items. From the factory in Halden hundreds of thousands of her pieces were exported to Sweden, Denmark, Germany, England, the US and Canada, but also to countries as far away as New Zealand, Venezuela and South Africa. Such was her reputation.
Norway’s most talented rally driver
Posted by admin in Photos and videos, Sport on September 25, 2010
Famous locals: Petter Solberg
Born in Askim, Østfold, in 1974, Petter Solberg is Norway’s most successful rally driver ever. Solberg debuted in the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 1998, and became the first Norwegian to win the drivers’ world title in 2003. Solberg also finished runner-up in the WRC to Marcus Grönholm (of Finland) in 2002, and in 2004 and 2005 to Sébastien Loeb (of France). All in all he has 13 individual world rally wins behind him (his first victory was at Rally GB in 2002).
His successful partnership with the Subaru World Rally Team came to an end with Subaru’s withdrawal from the WRC at the end of the 2008 season. Solberg has since been competing with his own privately-funded Petter Solberg World Rally Team – he finished the season fifth last year, and is currently ranked fourth in the WRC 2010.
Solberg is also famous for his peculiar use of English, where he often literally translates Norwegian idioms and expressions into English. This, along with his amiable and enthusiastic (some would say extravagant) personality and his obvious talent as a rally driver, has not just endeared him to the Norwegian public, but also made him a very popular sporting figure abroad.
More info, in English, at www.pettersolberg.com
From Mexico to Norway – Ana Luisa Rébora
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature on July 15, 2010
Another local artist whose work I love. I was actually very tempted to buy one of her paintings at the exhibition she had at Soli Brug, Sarpsborg, a couple of years ago – it was a rather big painting of a group of people by what looked like a huge waterfall, in shades of blue, browns and white – reminded me of Gullfoss in Island, very atmospheric, and just beautiful! Only the price tag (around 10,000Kr if I remember correctly) stopped me Anyway… When I say local artist I mean an artist based here, by the way, because Ana Luisa comes from Mexico originally, but Norway has been her home for the past 10 years – she now lives in Eidsberg, Indre-Østfold, although she still spends the winter in Mexico whenever she can. Her husband grows and sells organic Christmas trees, while she paints in her studio. Check out her work at www.analuisarebora.com or even better, visit her exhibition at Gallery Stallen in Gamlebyen, Fredrikstad, which is on until 30 July.