Gunnar Flagstad
Piano
Gunnar is a natural part of our festival. Not only does he make the music better, he makes everyone around him better. He's equally at home at Wigmore Hall as in an experimental collaboration.
About the Artist
You'll usually find Gunnar Flagstad wherever music gets interesting. For over three decades, he has moved between the roles of accompanist, chamber musician, and artistic innovator. That takes a special mind and talent.
He has performed "the classics" at Wigmore Hall in London, Konzerthaus in Berlin, and Lucerne Festival, but also the experimental alongside the ensemble TRAKTOR and in the duo FrankåGunnar, where he and singer Frank Havrøy turn Schubert upside down. Their 2021 Schwanengesang album was named one of the year's best releases by Klassekampen, Morgenbladet, and Aftenposten.
It's a joy for us, and we know it will be a joy for you too, that Gunnar is returning this summer. It ensures quality at every level.
As if they had lured Schubert down to an Austrian beer hall.
Concerts
See the full program →Pre-party: Frydenborg
For the first time, we’re creating a pre-festival celebration at Frydenborg for residents, users, and families alike. We’re proud of this, because we want to reach all of Risør.
Opening Concert
Artistic Director Tine Thing Helseth invites you to a spectacular opening featuring Haydn, Ravel, and others. Welcome to Risør Chamber Music Festival 2026!
Midsummer Party at Torvet
We’re inviting the whole town to Torvet on the most beautiful summer day of the year. Classical treats and good spirits, with food and drinks. Welcome!
Mari's Song Treasures
Close your eyes and picture this: soprano Mari Eriksmoen in a summer dress, in a lush green garden, her world-famous voice filling your heart.
Gold Is Forever
Quality music can withstand anything. You can tear and wear it, twist and turn it, take all kinds of liberties with the original, and the quality still shines through.
Back to the Future
Beethoven's string quartet will finally be performed in Risør Church again. But the first part of the concert is crucial to understanding Beethoven's last great work.
Tine and Friends
Tine Thing Helseth's intimate gathering. The concert that sells out fastest every year, which surprises no one. This is a Risør summer distilled to perfection.
The Pioneers
Haydn and Beethoven were trailblazers, but they weren't alone in being first with new ideas and approaches. Here we celebrate those who took the leap.
Romeo & Juliet
The world's most famous lovers have inspired more music than we can perform. So we've selected our favorites from Prokofiev and Bernstein.
Chamber Treasures
This is not a regular concert. It's the start of the weekend with the world's finest musicians letting loose and letting their hair down.
Up Close with the Pianists
They say change is good for you. We had to turn on a dime and suddenly went from one pianist up close to five. There’ll be a fight for the piano bench.
I would choose: ...
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson chose April, but what will this year's artists choose when asked to select their favorite composers and works?
Heartstrings
This year’s closing concert is inspired by an intricate emotional life between several great composers. The festival’s final concert plays on the most sensitive strings we have: the heartstrings.
