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Tomter and Gimse, renowned musicians from Norway, will perform at St. Olaf on May 8

By Brent Larsen '02
April 30, 2002

NORTHFIELD, Minn. - Violist Lars Anders Tomter and pianist Håvard Gimse, two of Norway's most renowned international musicians, will perform Wednesday, May 8, at 8:15 p.m. in Urness Recital Hall at St. Olaf College. The concert is free and open to the public.

Lars Anders TomterHåvard Gimse
TomterGimse
St. Olaf's rich Norwegian tradition as well as its reputation for music performance and education made Northfield an ideal place for a stop on Tomter and Gimse's U.S. tour. The artists will perform Robert Schumann's "Fairytales" (Marchenbilder), Benjamin Britten's "Lacrymae" and Edvard Grieg's "Sonata in A Minor."

Tomter was born in Hamar, Norway, in 1959. He began to play both the viola and violin at age 8, eventually studying under Professor Leif Jorgensen at the Oslo Music Conservatory and the Norwegian State Academy, where he is now a professor. He made his public debut on both instruments at age 17. Tomter's international solo career burgeoned in 1987-88 when he toured in the United States and Germany with the prestigious Norwegian Chamber Orchestra under Director Iona Brown.

Since then, his appearances as a viola soloist have been greeted with public and critical acclaim throughout Europe and the United States. "His appearance is exciting for St. Olaf because we have some very good viola students who have never heard a viola solo performance here before," says Associate Professor of Music Charles Gray.

Historically, violinists overshadow viola players, and consequently this performance will be unique. Because more stringed-instrument music is written for violin, violists often have to rearrange pieces to fit the viola's sound, as Tomter has done for the Grieg sonata.

"This is the first time ever that this rearranged piece will be played at St. Olaf," says Associate Professor of Music Andrea Een.

Gimse was born in Kongsvinger, Norway, in 1966. After earning his diploma from Hochschule der Kunste Berlin in 1995, he began studying with Professor Jiri Hlinka in Norway. He established himself as one of Scandinavia's preeminent international pianists in 1994 when he received a strong review in the New York Times after his debut at Lincoln Center in New York City with the Riverside Symphony.

Gimse also has received excellent reviews as a soloist with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, the Stavanger Symphony, the Janacek Philharmonic and the Thuringen Philharmonic. Since 1997 Gimse has been an assistant program manager of the Oslo Chamber Music Festival. He has been honored with the prestigious Grieg Prize (1996), first prize in the Jugend Musiziert (1987) and the Steinway Prize (1995). "Norway is known for its fine classical and folk music tradition," says Een, who has a special research interest in the Norwegian folk Hardanger fiddle. "We are extremely lucky to have both Tomter and Ginsme performing at St. Olaf."

St. Olaf College, a national leader among liberal arts institutions, fosters the development of mind, body and spirit. It is a residential college in Northfield, Minn., and affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college provides personalized instruction and diverse learning environments, with more than two-thirds of its students participating in international studies.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.