November 13th, 2015 – Four young Nordic composers conducted by the Italian musician Marco Fusi are ready to enchant Norway with a concert that evokes the sounds of yesteryear. “New music for an ancient instrument” is the title of the project between Italy and Scandinavia to bring back an instrument that is virtually extinct: the viola d’amore. The Norwegian event, organized by Ny Musikk and Nasjonalmuseet, in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute in Oslo, is set for Sunday, November 22 at 3pm at the National Gallery in Oslo and at 7pm at the Helleviktangen of Nesodden. The project, which also includes a tour of Sweden, Denmark and Italy, wants to bring back from the dead the viola d’amore, a string instrument of the Renaissance and Baroque periods that was then gradually replaced by more modern string instruments built in the 1600 and 1700. The viola d’amore is built with a series of strings similar to those of the traditional Norwegian fiddle “hardingfele” that inspired the four composers Johan Svensson, Ylva Lund Bergner, Axel Rudebeck and Øyvind Mæland. (Sip)
