Preview - A Norwegian Requiem: Arve Henriksen, Ståle Storrløkken and Choralia. Sage Gateshead November 25

In Hall One Madeleine Peyroux will be  strutting her stuff but over in Hall Two a much more sombre and sacred affair will be taking place...

Arve Henriksen – Trumpet; Ståle Storløkken – Organ; Christopher Finch – Choirmaster; Choralia – Wells Cathedral School Choir

Leading Norwegian musicians Arve Henriksen and Ståle Storløkken join acclaimed UK girls’ choir Choralia to perform Andrew Smith’s moving reflection on the tragic massacre on Utøya in Norway.

Andrew Smith’s moving new work is loosely based on the Roman Catholic requiem mass, and combines Arve Henriksen’s unique improvisation with the singers’ notated score to create music of deep reflective beauty. Requiem is dedicated to young, innocent victims of conflict everywhere, and in particular to those who lost their lives at Utøya on 22 July 2011.

Commissioned by Nidaros Cathedral Girls’ Choir (Trondheim, Norway) and Arve Henriksen, the tragic events at Utøya took place just after Andrew began his composition and it was unavoidable that they should influence the work. Several of the traditional requiem texts have been replaced by biblical references to the young: Rachel screaming at the abduction of her children by the Babylonians, Herod’s brutal infanticide after the birth of Jesus, and Mary crying at the loss of her son.

One of the greatest stars of European jazz and new music, Arve Henriksen is a unique performer whose timeless music stretches across genres to create haunting, filmic soundtracks. Ståle Storløkken occupies similarly creative musical territory and, along with Arve, is a member of the band Supersilent who recently toured the UK in collaboration with legendary guitarist John Paul Jones.

Andrew Smith has written music for a wide variety of choirs and vocal ensembles. His collaboration with the Norwegian group Trio Mediaeval brought his music to the attention of an international audience and introduced him to the all-male vocal quartet New York Polyphony. The quartet’s second CD ‘Tudor City’ reached 6th place on the classical Billboard charts.

Note that a £10 ticket is available for members of Sage Gateshead choral groups – please contact TicketOffice for details.

arvehenriksen.com