ABOUT OBK
Ole Bull Chamber Choir is choir with a passion for classical music. We have a wide ranging repertoire of classical a cappella choral works. We have sung works from the 1500s until present day, also featuring world premieres of choral pieces. The choir consists of singers from the city of Bergen and the surrounding areas west in Norway. Our conductor and artistic director is Jon Flydal Blichfeldt.
Ole Bull Chamber Choir is aiming at making classical choral music an experience available for all during their entire life. The goal is to contribute to improving the quality of life for people of all ages in Bergen and surroundings through choral music. In order to achieve this, the choir has since 2023 implemented measures to lift our choral singing out of the traditional settings of practicing and concerts. These are now an integral part of the choir’s activities throughout the year with the following key elements:
- Workshops for children and youth
- Low-key concerts for everyone
- Concerts at nursing homes
- Free admission for students at integration schools
The choir is supported by the Grieg Foundation to make this project sustainable.
Singers
Sopranos: Hilde Marie Torgauten, Hilde Udjus Frorud, Ingeborg Ekeland, Johanne Mohn Mørch, Karianne Fiske, Maria Klokk Fremstad
Altos: Anita Magdalena Horn, Hannah Sofie Knoop, Maria Sæle, Marta Grygier, Silje Høye Steen, Sylvia Tømmervaag
Tenors: Are Garmann, Fredrik Lauritzen, Hallvard Riikoja-Lid, Kjetil Hansen Skåra, Laila Melkevoll, Rúben Carvalho
Basses: Geir Olav Rød, Helge Berset, Ingmar Aarsland Forsberg, James Taylor, Tarjei Skeie, Øystein Hellesøe Brekke
Artistic Director
Jon Flydal Blichfeldt is the artistic director, conductor and founder of Ole Bull Chamber Choir. Jon is a trained cellist and choir conductor from the Grieg Academy in Bergen and the University College of Tromsø. He has studied choral conducting with Ragnar Rasmussen, Maria Gamborg Helbekkmo, Magnar Mangersnes, Carl Høgset and Thomas Caplin. Jon is a freelance musician and conducts Ole Bull Chamber Choir, Bergen Mannskor and Osterøykoret. From 2003 to 2010 he was music advisor at the Norwegian Choral Association’s Hordaland office.
With several of his choirs he has accomplished good results in competitions:
- 2011, at “In… Canto Sul Garda, Italy: the conductor’s prize for conducting Vokalensemblet Skrik
- 2012, Syng For Oss (Norwegian competition): winner of the Grand Prix with Vokalensemblet Skrik
- 2014 and 2016, Syng For Oss (Norwegian competition): winner of the category “mixed choirs” with Osterøykoret
- 2017, London International Choral Competition: heat winner and Runner up (2nd place) in the finals with Ole Bull Chamber Choir.
- 2020, Syng For Oss (Norwegian competition): awarded with the adjudicators prize with Bergen Male Choir
- 2022, P.E.A.C.E award in the Cork International Choral Festival, Ireland with Ole Bull Chamber Choir
- 2023, Syng For Oss (Norwegian competition): awarded “best sacred program” with Bergen Male Choir
You can read more about Jon on www.musikant.no (Norwegian text).
Our story
Ole Bull Chamber Choir was founded on 15 January 2015.
Photograph: Heidi J. Mongstad
The choir consists of well trained amateur singers with a common purpose: To explore the world of beautiful classical choral music. Concerts are held in Bergen and surroundings, and every once in a while we travel abroad for choral competitions and concerts.
Why Ole Bull Chamber Choir?
Ole Bull (1810-1880) was a famous and sought-after violinist. He was not afraid to take artistic risk and was by many considered to be ahead of his time. Even though he is not associated with choral music, Ole Bull was, and still is, a central figure on the Norwegian music scene and his life and career has put its mark on the arts scene in Bergen and the surrounding areas. Just like Ole Bull, the choir’s ambition is to be daring and adventurous and to share high quality musical experiences with audiences both at home and abroad.
The choir has had a busy first five years with many solo concert productions as well as taking part in other choral events in Bergen and abroad. In June 2017, the choir took part in LIACCC, London International Choral Competition, won their qualifying heat, and finished as overall runner-up in the final. The main focus of the choir is presenting a cappella classical and contemporary choir music.
Overview of our musical activities
2015
- O1 – Debut concert
- O2 – Noël – a French themed Christmas concert, featuring works by Poulenc, Messiaen and Duruflé
2016
- O3 – works by Arvo Pärt, Knut Nystedt and Edvard Grieg
- O4 – Summer time– works by: Kalvenes (world premiere), Morley and Elgar
- O5 – The land of dreams – a choral concert inspired by Whitacre’s ”Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine”
- O6 – XMAS time – British carols and British choral music
2017
- O7 – Bach –Jesu, meine Freude (main part of the concert)
- O8 – The Madrigal–a bouqet of madrigals
- O9 – novem/neun/nine/neuf/ – Nine classic choral works
- O10 – Norwegian choral works
- O11 – Bach – Jesu, meine Freude (main piece, with baroque bassoon and organ)
- O12 – West meets East, music from the Russian Orthodox Church and Norwegian Christmas carols
2018
- O13 – Mass for double choir by Frank Martin with Aurum Chamber Choir, Concerts in Trondheim and Bergen
- Concert as part of the the Maria Church Festival 2018
- Joseph Haydn: Missa in tempore belli, collaboration with Bergen Cathedral Choir and Bergen Filharmonic Orchestra
- O14 – Stille Nacht, classical German and Norwegian Christmas Music
2019
- O15 – Klang av evighet / Klank der eeuwigheid with Kamerkoor Venus from Utrecht (the Netherlands) and Anne Cathrine Eiken (soprano)
- O16 – Into the golden sun – a presentation of competition repertoire
- Requiem by Luigi Cherubini, collaboration with Bergen Cathedral Choir and Bergen Filharmonic Orchestra
- O17 – Den søte juletid – Christmas music from a variety of countries
2020
- Den dag kjem aldri – recording during lock down in time of the pandemic
- O18 – 5 years anniversary concert, streamed
2021
- O19 – Norwegian folk songs
- O20 – Arvo Pärt
- O21 – Adventskonsert – traditional Christmas Carols
2022
- O22 – Lat sola skina – Tour repertoire for Cork International Choral Festival/Fleischmann International Trophy Award
- O23 – Requiem by Gabriel Faure
- O24 – Yuletide – Christmas Carols
2023
- O25 – I shall dance til’ the moutain crumbles
Tour in the western part of Norway - O26 – Nordlys/Northern Lights, friendship concert with Magnum Chorum, Minnesota, USA
- O27 – Seil i mørke, lille jord, a concert inspired by the planets, the moon and the urge of exploration. Performed in cooperation with visual artist Birk Nygaard
- O28 – Adventskonsert, classical Christmas Carols
2024
- O29 – Flammende hjerter (With Hearts of Fire), Uranienborg church, Oslo as well asin St Marcus’ Church, Bergen and St Mary’s Church, Bergen
- 2024, 1st place in the category “Sacred music” and participator in the Grand Prix finals in the
Grieg International Choir Festival with Ole Bull Chamber Choir - O30 – Samles mine tanker, mediative concerts in Fana Church, and St. John’s Church, Bergen
2025
- O31 – Den syngende revolusjonen, konsert dedikert den estiske sangfestivalen, Laulupidu 2025 m/innledninger av Øystein Hellesøe Brekke, Betlehem, Bergen
Choral competitions
October 2015, National Choir Championships, Trondheim
Sacred music, category A: 89,7 out of 100 points, silver diploma
Secular music, category A: 90,1 out of 100 points, gold diploma
June 2016, Grieg International Choir Festival
Contemporary music: 21,6 out of 25 points
Sacred music: 19,8 out of 25 points
June/July 2017, London International A Cappella Choral Competition
Winners of Heat 4 and Runner up (2nd place) in the finals.
August 2019, Concorso Polifonico Guido d’Arezzo
Participation in four competition categories
April-May 2022: Fleischmann International Trophy Award, Cork, Ireland
Winner of the P.E.A.C.E. Trophy
September 2024, Grieg International Choir Festival
Sacred music: 23,33 out of 25 points, winner of the category
Mixed choir: 22,33 out of 25 points
Participator in the Grand Prix finals
Repertoire
We have a wide ranging repertoire of classical a cappella choral works. We have sung works from the 1500s until present day, even featuring a world premiere of a choral piece. The list below represents an overview over all works we have sung since the choir was founded in 2015.
Works performed by Ole Bull Chamber Choir
(in alphabetical order):
| Composer | Title |
|---|---|
| Allegri, Gregorio | Miserere, mei Deus |
| Arbeau, Thoinot | Belle qui tiens ma vie |
| Attaginant, Pierre | Tourdion |
| Bach, Johann Sebastian | Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier |
| Jesu, meine Freude BWV 227 | |
| Beck, Thomas | Sæle jolekveld! |
| Bennett, Richard Rodney | Five Carols |
| Berge, Håkon | No stig vår song |
| Bjørklund, Terje | Ave Regina |
| Brahms, Johannes | Warum ist das Licht gegeben dem Mühseligen |
| Britten, Benjamin | A hymn to the virgin |
| Bruckner, Anton | Os Justi/Graduale |
| Busnois, Antonie | Noël, noël |
| Busto, Javier | Zutaz |
| Cherubini, Luigi | Requiem |
| Dahl, A. Fasmer | Julesang (Nu vandrer fra…) |
| de Wert, Giaches | Peccavi super numerum |
| Debussy, Claude | Trois Chansons |
| di Lasso, Orlando | Surgens Jesus |
| Distler, Hugo | Ich brach drei dürre Reiselein |
| Duruflé, Maurice | Quatre Motets, No. 1 and 2 |
| Dyrud, Torbjørn | Lovesong II |
| Snart kysser hun sin venn i rosenhagen | |
| Elgar, Edward | As torrents in summer |
| Ēriks Ešenvalds | Stars |
| Evers, Edvard | Jul, jul, strålande jul |
| Fauré, Gabriel | Requiem |
| Ferrario, Pietro | Ubi caritas |
| Folk song, Norway | Uventa brudlaupssjau |
| Folk song, Norway, arr. Ivar Krogh Hovd | Sulla lulla |
| Folk song, Norway | Sulli lulli |
| Folk song, Norway, arr. E. Hovland | No koma Guds englar |
| Folk song, Norway, arr. E. Hovland | Kling no, klokka (damekor) |
| Folk song, Norway, arr. Frank Havrøy | Bysjan, bysjan lite bån |
| Nøringen | |
| Folk song, Norway, arr. Grete Pedersen | Ned i vester soli glader |
| Folk song, Norway, arr. Henning Sommerro | Bruremarsj frå Valsøyfjord |
| Folk song, Norway, arr. Henning Sommerro | Et lite barn så lystelig (Julverset) |
| Folk song, Norway, arr. Henrik Ødegaard | Krist stod op af Døde |
| Folk song, Norway, arr. Jens Bugge Olsen | Bendik og Årolilja (equal voices9 |
| Folk song, Norway, arr. Klaus Egge | Den dag kjem aldri at eg deg gløymer |
| Folk song, Norway, arr. Knut Nystedt | Astri, mi Astri |
| Neslandskyrkja | |
| Folk song, Norway, arr. Magnar Åm | Eg veit i himmerik ei borg |
| Folketone, Norway, arr. Martin Steinum Brun | Den fagraste rosa |
| Folk song, Norway, arr. Per Indrehus | Bånsull fra Østerdalen |
| Folk song, Norway, arr. Ørjan Matre | Bestelanden |
| Eit barn er født i Betlehem | |
| Folk song, France, arr. Charles Wood | Ding dong merrily on high |
| Folk song, France, arr. Reginald Jacques | Away in a manger, second tune |
| Folk song, Ireland, arr. John Rutter | Wexford carol |
| Folk song, Iceland, arr. Jón Ásgeirsson | Hátið fer að höndum ein |
| Folk song, Italy, arr. Jens Bugge Olsen | O sanctissima |
| Folk song, Portugal, arr. Eurico Carraposoto | Ó meu menino |
| Folk song, Russian | Vzgljani siuda |
| Folk song, Sweden, arr. Margareta Jalkéus | Bereden väg för Herran |
| Folk song, Sweden arr. R. Rasmussen | Mitt hjerte alltid vanker |
| Folk song, Germany, arr. Raphael, Günther | Maria durch ein Dornwald ging |
| Folk song, Ukraina, arr. S. Burnby | Carol of the Bells |
| Førde, Jan Magne | Bruremarsj |
| Geavert, Francois | Les messages des Anges |
| Gjeilo, Ola | God rest you merry, gentlemen |
| Northern Lights | |
| O come, o come, Emmanuel | |
| Ubi caritas | |
| Grieg, Edvard | Fire salmer |
| Sang til juletræet (equal voices) | |
| Til Ole Bull | |
| Våren | |
| Gruber, Franz Xaver | Stille Nacht |
| Hammerschmidt, Andreas | Machet die Tore weit |
| Haydn, Joseph | Missa in tempore belli (Paukemesse) |
| Hoff, Trygve, arr. E. Fagertun | Nordnorsk julesalme (male choir) |
| Holst, Gustav, arr. Ola Gjeilo | In the bleak midwinter |
| Hovland, Egil | Jerusalem |
| Händel, Georg Friedrich | Tochter Zion |
| Jugenheimer Liederblatt, arr. Thomas Beck | Gammel Maria-vise |
| Kalvenes, Tord | Darkness cannot drive out darkness |
| Kirkpatrick, W.J., arr. D. Wilcocks | Away in a manger, first tune |
| Kodály, Zoltán | Túrot eszik a cigány |
| Korsfarersang, arr. Thomas Beck | Deilig er jorden |
| Kverno, Trond H. F. | Ave Maris Stella |
| Kverno, Trond H. F., arr. | I denne søte juletid |
| Larsen, Gjermund | Solbønn |
| Lindberg, Nils | Shall I Compare Thee |
| Lotti, Antonio | Crucifixus à 8 voci |
| Martin, Frank | Mass for Double Choir |
| Melody from Einsiedeln convent | Folkefrelsar til oss kom |
| Melody from Wittenberg, arr. F. Valen | Eg synger jolekvad |
| Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Felix | Denn er hat seinen Engeln befohlen |
| Richte mich, Gott op. 78 nr. 2 | |
| Messiaen, Olivier | O sacrum convivium |
| Monteverdi, Claudio | Lasciate mi morire! |
| Quel Augelin che canta | |
| Morley, Thomas | Now is the month of maying |
| Sing we and chant it | |
| Mäntyjärvi, Jaakko | Die Stimme des Kindes |
| Märak, Johan/Sandström, Jan | Biegga Luohte (Joik for the mountain wind) |
| Nystedt, Knut | Immortal Bach |
| Mary’s Song (equal voices) | |
| O Crux | |
| Peace I leave with you | |
| Palestrina, Giovanni Perluigi da | Si ignoras te |
| Passereau, Pierre | Il est bel et bon |
| Peacock, Adrian | Veni, Gaudete! |
| Poulenc, Francis | Quatre Motets pour le temps de Noël |
| Praetorius, Michael, arr. Jan Sandström | Es ist ein Ros entsprungen |
| Purcell, Henry | In these delightful, pleasant groves |
| Pärt, Arvo | And I heard a voice… |
| Bogoroditse devo | |
| Magnificat | |
| Morning Star | |
| Salve Regina | |
| Solfeggio | |
| The Beatitudes | |
| The Deer’s Cry | |
| Virgencita | |
| Which was the son of… | |
| Zwei slawische Psalmen, Psalm 117 | |
| Zwei slawische Psalmen, Psalm 131 | |
| Rakhmaninov, Sergej | Blazjen muzj, op. 37 nr. 3 |
| Bogoroditse devo, op. 37 nr. 6 | |
| Reger, Max, arr. | Es kommt ein Schiff geladen |
| O, Jesulein süss | |
| Rehnqvist, Karin | Var inte rädd för mörkret (equal voices) |
| Rheinberger, Josef | Anima nostra |
| Rød, Geir Olav | Eventide |
| Schjerve, Fredrik | Exaudi Orationem Meam |
| Seiber, Matyas | There was an old man in a tree |
| Skuķe, Evija | Mēness vokalīze (Moon Vocalise) |
| Sommerro, Henning | Den fattige Gud |
| Kveldssalme | |
| Vente, vente | |
| Świder, Józef | Pater Noster |
| Sigurbjörnsson, Thorkell | Heyr himna smiður |
| Stanford, Charles Villiers | Beati quorum via |
| Tigrini, Orazio | Cantai un tempo, e se fu dolce il canto |
| Tsjesnokov, Pavel | Presvjataja bogoroditse, op. 43 nr. 1 |
| Spasenije sodelal, op. 25 nr. 5 | |
| Trad. 15th century | Coventry Carol |
| Trad. 13th century, arr. M. Praetorius | In dulci jubilo |
| Trad liturgical, arr. Jacques Cohen | Gaudete! |
| Vulpius, Melchior, arr. M. Praetorius | Coventry Carol |
| Wenæs, Irene Adolfsen | Domine Deus |
| Whitacre, Eric | A boy and a girl |
| Leonardo dreams of his flying machine | |
| Lux Aurumque | |
| This marriage | |
| Wikander, David | Kung Liljekonvalje |
