Event info

This concert celebrates the release of Oda Voltersvik’s third solo CD “Nordic Unrest”. 

In the chosen works by Edvard Grieg and Atli Heimir Sveinsson, elements within the nordic nature
are captured or tales and characters originating from folklore are described. The programme also
include music reflecting an inner unrest.

“The Song of the Stone” (“Óður steinsins”) by Atli Heimir Sveinsson is based on a 30 verse epic
with the same name by Kristján frá Djúpalæk from 1977. For this concert, artist Karina Skilbrei has
created paintings inspired by each poem and movement presented.

The release tour `Nordic Unrest` is supported by Fund for Performing Artists Norway (FFUK) and
City of Bergen.

Programme: 

Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907)
From Lyric pieces, Norwegian Folk Songs and Dances and more Ballade in G minor, Op.24 (1876) 

Atli Heimir Sveinsson (1938 - 2019)
From “Óður steinsins”/“The song of the stone”(1983)

Oda Voltersvik “(… ) an artist with the talent to make a serious name for herself” (Calum Petrie on Grieg Piano Concerto, Scottish Press and Journal), has performed at international festivals and venues such as Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, Victor Borge Hall, Wigmore Hall, St Martin in the Fields, Norwegian Opera House, Bergen International Festival and Palermo Classica International Festival. She has appeared as soloist with orchestras internationally and as solo- and chamber musician for important concert societies in Europe and in the Unites States. For ten years, Voltersvik has been invited as artist-in-residence for a week at the Edvard Grieg Museum in Bergen, among other recital engagements at KODE composers homes. Her recordings “Neo” (solo), “Firebird” (solo) and “Khoreia” (piano duo) have received critical acclaim for their well-thoughtout programme choices, technical skill and artistic expression. She won first prize of the Bradshaw&Buono International Competition in 2017 and the honourable work grant from the Norwegian Arts Council in 2021-2022. Voltersvik received her Master in Performance Degree from the Royal College of Music London, and afterwards an Artist Diploma from Trinity Laban London with distinction from the Intercollegiate Jury. Since then, she has been managing solo projects and concert series for her Volt&Potenza duo, Volt Ensemble and more. Currently, Oda is continuously touring and appearing with orchestras in the US with a visa for “Individuals with extraordinary ability in the arts”

Karina Skilbrei works as a visual artist, illustrator, and singer. Her previous exhibitions include, among others, “Til jorden” (Slettebakken Church), “Sakristi” (Fana Culture House), “Under hav av sol” (Fana Culture House), “Solens fødsel” (Logen Theater), “Begynnelse er den nye frihet” (Logen Theater), and “Ved jordens indre” (Gallery Forrest). In addition, she has participated in numerous group exhibitions and completed various decorative art commissions. She is currently involved in ongoing artistic collaborations with musician and songwriter Josefin Winther and classical pianist Oda Hjertine Voltersvik. Karina is also a lecturer and writer. She holds a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Bergen (2008), further education in pedagogical visual arts from the Steiner University College in Oslo (2010), and a bachelor’s degree in art history from the University of Bergen (2016). In 2007, she was a guest student at the Center for Subjectivity Research at the University of Copenhagen, and in 2016 she became affiliated with the research group “Vitensbilder” at the University of Bergen. She has carried out illustration projects for the Solar Observatory, NIVA (University of Oslo), and the publishing house Vett&Viten.