- We’re really looking forward to visiting Beijing. It’s an exciting project and we have learnt to look at other people’s music with new eyes and to respect each other’s musical expressions, says Marie Forr Klåpbakken, one of the three Norwegian musicians from Talent 2007.
Bridge-builders
Several concerts are to be held in Beijing, including events at the Norwegian and Nepalese embassies. The 17th of May sees a special concert at the SAS hotel in Beijing.
- We’re also working towards strengthening our contacts with musical and educational institutions in our partner countries, says musician, educationalist and composer, Steinar Ofsdal, who is one of the leaders of Talent 2007.
The informing idea
Every year since 1995, the Førde International Festival of Folk Music, in collaboration with Concerts Norway, has brought together nine young artists, aged from 17 to 24, from three countries, one of which is always Norway. These young musicians are among the finest practitioners of folk music in their respective countries and are selected through a process of evaluation and auditioning. The purpose of Talent 2007 is to support skilful, young musicians by giving them the opportunity to develop both musically and as people. The project is also to be arranged in the Summer of 2008, this time with participants from Egypt, Palestine and Norway. Again, a group of young musicians will meet and play together under professional guidance and instruction.
Encountering differences
The musicians of Talent 2007 are trained in their capacity to encounter differences, both musical and cultural. After getting to know each other and playing together at Førde last year, they left for a return visit to Nepal. Audiences in both Nepal and Norway were surprised, almost astounded, at the music they got to hear. Now it is the turn of the Chinese public to experience their ground-breaking interplay.
Different ways of life
- Both the Nepalese and Chinese musicians put a lot of feeling into their music. We do too up to a point, but there’s still a difference because our way of life is much easier than theirs, says Marie Forr Klåpbakken.
When the Nepalese musicians sing about not having enough food, they really know what it means.
- Our Chinese colleagues start their musical training as six-year olds, move away from their families, live at boarding schools and study nothing but music. That’s a long way from Norwegian day-to-day life, says Marie.
- Taking part in such a collaboration is exciting and a powerful emotional experience, says Steinar Ofsdal. – I hope that this and similar projects will contribute in the long run to preventing conflicts, and I can see that the participants acquire new perspectives on their own lives through their meeting with others who, at the outset, were far from familiar, he says.
An international collaboration
Steinar Ofsdal and Rigmor Johnsen took the initiative for the return visit to China. It was then realised by means of collaboration between the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Concerts Norway, the Nepal Music Center, the University for Minorities in Beijing and the Norwegian Embassy in Beijing. The Førde International Festival of Folk Music, who initiated the original project, has given the trip its blessing.
The participants from the respective countries are as follows:
From China: Sha Mo (erhu), Yang Tianzi (flute, hulusi and bawu) and Tang Xiaoyuan (Dan Sheng Qin, a one-stringed instrument). From Nepal: Barta Gandharba (sarangi and vocals), Rubin Kumar Shrestha (flute) and Sanskriti Shrestha (tablá and madal). From Norway: The Triumvir trio with Nina Fjeldet (fiddle), Rikke van Ommeren (two-row melodeon) and Marie Forr Klåpbakken (fiddle, vocals).
Contact personnel:
Anne Moberg, project leader, Concerts Norway Abroad
Tel. (+47) 22 02 59 34, mobil: (+47) 90 73 88 89, anne.moberg@rikskonsertene.no
Rigmor Johnsen, project coordinator for Talent 2007 in China
Mobil: (+86) 1391 081 1389
rigmor_jo@yahoo.no
Bitte Emberland, communications adviser
Tel. (+47) 22 02 59 63, mobil: (+47) 97 74 78 86, bitte.emberland@rikskonsertene.no