Summer Party at Torvet

We're inviting the whole city to the main square on the most beautiful summer day of the year. Classical delights and good vibes, plus food and drinks. Welcome!

Date
Time
–
Venue
Torvet
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Trompetist Tine Thing Helseth foran en Sankthansbål
Foto: Liv Øvland

About the concert

We’re opening the festival with a proper celebration for the whole town. This year’s Midsummer Celebration at Torvet will be an evening where we gather and set the tone for the best week in Risør.

After the opening concert in the church, we’ll all wander down and join the rest of town for a real street party. You’ll meet the festival’s star artists at their very best, and there will be hot dogs, waffles, and something good to drink.

Bring your good spirits, and we’ll wrap up in plenty of time before the bonfire is lit out by the open sea.
Welcome to Risør Chamber Music Festival 2026!

Additional Content

Concert Program

Welcome to the celebration at Torvet!

If you have a ticket for the Opening Concert in Risør Church, the Midsummer Celebration at Torvet is included with your ticket.

The concert consists of two parts.

Part One

Edvard Grieg: Excerpts from 6 Songs, Op. 48 (1884–88)

  • Greeting
  • In the Time of Roses
  • A Dream

Performers:

  • Mari Eriksmoen, soprano
  • Gunnar Flagstad, piano

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Maurice Ravel: From Sonata for Violin and Cello in A Minor, M.73 (1920–22)

  • Lent
  • Vif, avec entrain

Performers:

  • Alena Baeva, violin
  • Victor Julien-Laferrière, cello

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Georg F. Handel / Johan Halvorsen: Sarabande con Variazioni (1897)

Performers:

  • Jan Söderblom, violin
  • Lilli Maijala, viola

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Bella Bartok: From “44 Duos for 2 Violins,” Sz. 98. (Version for viola)

  • 35: Ruthuenian Kolomeika
  • 28: Sorrow
  • 22: Mosquito Dance
  • 36: Bagpipes

Performers:

  • Eivind Ringstad, viola
  • Lilli Maijala, viola

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Agathe Backer Grøndahl: From Barnets Varda, Op. 42 (1897)

  • Flower Gathering
  • Toward Evening

Performers:

  • Mari Eriksmoen, soprano
  • Gunnar Flagstad, piano
Part Two

George Gershwin: Summertime from Porgy and Bess (1934)

Performers:

  • Mari Eriksmoen, soprano
  • Tine Thing Helseth, trumpet
  • Gunnar Flagstad, piano

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Kurt Weill: Youkali from the musical Marie Galante (1934)

(arr. Jarle Storløkken)

Performers:

  • Mari Eriksmoen, soprano
  • Tine Thing Helseth, trumpet
  • Gunnar Flagstad, piano
  • Jarle Storløkken, guitar
  • Frode Berg, double bass

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Herb Alpert: Trumpet bonanza

Performers:

  • Sebastian Haukås, trumpet
  • Tine Thing Helseth, trumpet
  • Gunnar Flagstad, piano
  • Jarle Storløkken, guitar
  • Frode Berg, double bass

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Summer jazz on the pier

Performers:

  • Sebastian Haukås, trumpet
  • Gunnar Flagstad, piano
  • Jarle Storløkken, guitar
  • Frode Berg, double bass

Artists

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