Norwegian Arts has your August concert calendar sorted, with this complete overview of Norwegian live music happening at festivals and venues across the UK this month.

 

4 August: Medbøe/Eriksen/Halle at St Ann’s Church

As part of Manchester Jazz Festival, the extraordinary Norwegian chamber trio performs music from their critically acclaimed debut album The Space Between and perhaps some new tunes from their follow-up album due for release later this year. Inspired by Nordic culturesand the North Sea, the trio brings atmospheric evocations on the natural elements and impressionistic improvisations, flecked with subtle electronics to St Ann’s Church at 1.15pm on 4 August.

5, 19 & 20 August: Jenny Hval

The fifth instalment of Visions Festival sees a performance from Norwegian artist Jenny Hval on Oval Space at 9pm on 5 August. Having released several albums, Hval’s artistry is seamlessly interwoven between musical, literary, visual and performative modes of expression. She also visits the Doune the Rabbit Hole Festival in Stirlingshire on 19 August and gives a performance at Summerhall in Edinburgh on 20 August.

Follow this link to read Luke Slater’s exploration of Jenny Hval’s latest album, Blood Bitch.

7 August: Leif Ove Andsnes at Edinburgh International Festival

One of the most talented pianists to emerge from Norway in recent years, Leif Ove Andsnes, performs together with the accomplished German violinist Christian Tetzlaff at The Queen’s Hall at 11am as part of Edinburgh International Festival.

10 August: Lise Davidsen at Royal Albert Hall

Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen makes BBC Proms debut in excerpts from Grieg’s Peer Gynt and Sibelius’ tone-poem Luonnotar in Royal Albert Hall on 10 August.

12 & 13 August: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra at Edinburgh International Festival

The historic Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra represents the heights of Norwegian musical achievement with two concerts at Edinburgh International Festival. At 7.45pm on 12 August, they bring a programme including Grieg, Wagner and Elgar to Usher Hall. The orchestra returns to the venue on 13 August accompanied by the Edvard Grieg Choir.

22 August: Medbøe/Eriksen/Halle at Watermill Jazz Club

Expect a journey of contemplative soundscapes with triumphantly emerging melodies and fiery collective improvisations when this trio performs at the Watermill Jazz Club at 8pm on 22 August. Haftor Medbøe on guitar, Espen Eriksen on piano and Gunnar Halle on trumpet are recording the follow-up album to The Space Between this August.

22 August: Susanne Sundfør at The Courtyard Theatre

Three days ahead of her brand new album, Music For People In Trouble, being released on August 25, Susanne Sundfør plays an intimate show at The Courtyard Theatre to celebrate Bella Union’s 20^th anniversary and welcoming her to the label.

24 & 25 August: Tord Gustavsen Trio at Ronnie Scott’s

Tord Gustavsen Trio brings memorable melodies with open musical spaces and subtle grooves to Ronnie Scott’s. With new material pointing forwards in musical openness and inventiveness, while at the same time connecting to the quietness and grounded sensuality of Tord’s successful earlier trio albums, the trio performs on 24 and 25 of August, as part of the International Piano Trio Festival.

29 August: Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall

Conducted by acclaimed Shostakovich interpreter Vasily Petrenko, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra brings an all-Russian programme to Royal Albert Hall as part of BBC Proms 2017, marking this year’s centenary of the Russian Revolution. Pianist Leif Ove Andsnes returns as soloist for Rachmaninov’s mercurial Fourth Piano Concerto. Also on the programme are Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 12, subtitled The Year 1917, and Stravinsky’s ever-popular suite from The Firebird.

Top photo: Tord Gustavsen. Photo: Hans Fredrik Asbjørnsen