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Norwegian choir to perform at St. Olaf as part of Norway's centennial celebration

By David Gonnerman '90
February 25, 2005

St. Olaf College will present a performance by the Oslo Cathedral Choir on Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Boe Memorial Chapel. Conducted by Terje Kvam, the choir will perform Passio Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Secundum Matthaeum (St. Matthew Passion), a piece by contemporary Norwegian composer Trond Kverno. The concert, which is free and open to the public, is part of Norway's centennial commemoration of the peaceful dissolution of the union between Sweden and Norway in 1905.

OsloCathedralChoir
The Oslo Cathedral Choir.
Born in Oslo in 1945, Kverno earned degrees in church music, music theory and choir direction from the Oslo Conservatory of Music. Currently professor of church music at the Norwegian State Academy of Music, Kverno specializes in church music composition. Many of his hymns are found in the Norwegian Hymn Book and in hymnals in Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Germany. His main work, however, is the St. Matthew Passion for a cappella double choir and 10 soloists. Soloists for the St. Olaf performance were: Marianne Hirsti, soprano; Marianne E. Anderson, alto; David Martin, countertenor; tenors Ian Partridge, Joseph Cornwell, Gabriel Crouch and John English; Colin Campbell, baritone; and Adrian Peacock and Njal Sparbo, bass.

Founded in 1982, the 50-member Oslo Cathedral Choir has gained a reputation as one of the best in Scandinavia. With support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Embassy in Washington, the choir promotes contemporary Norwegian choral music to American audiences.

With reporting by Meredith Utt '08.

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