Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Music, by V. H. Siewers
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has been proofread at least once.
(diff)
(history)
Denna sida har korrekturlästs minst en gång.
(skillnad)
(historik)
foreign operatic companies and opera-singers have appeared in
Norway in the course of time.
In addition to this, Norwegian artists have also occasionally
cultivated this branch of art themselves, and operatic performances
have frequently been given in the Kristiania Theatre, erected in
1837. In 1874, with Norwegian and Swedish performers, a
permanent operatic company was formed, which gave quite brilliant
artistic results, but such small proceeds, that after the burning
down of the theatre in the beginning of 1877, it had to be
discontinued.
The conductor of the theatre orchestra at that time, Johan
Hennum (1836—1894), contributed greatly to bring about these
good results. Under his successor. Per Winge (born 1858),
who, as a song-writer, possesses both musical taste and the gift
of melody, opera has also been cultivated with great success. A
cousin of Winge, Per Lasson (1859—1883), raised great hopes
by his beautiful songs and pianoforte compositions, but died when
quite young.
When these lines are read, the Kristiania Theatre will be
closed, and its performances transferred to the newly-instituted and
newly-erected, splendid National Theatre. Johan Halvorsen (born
1864) has been chosen to fill the post of conductor of the orchestra.
As violinist, conductor, and composer of several large and small
works, he has gained considerable reputation.
The majority of operatic works performed have been foreign
masterpieces, but several original musical dramas have also been
brought forward. The last considerable work of the kind was
the «Cossacks», by Catharinus Elling (born 1858), who, as the
composer of a symphony, an oratorio, chamber-music and numerous
songs, has attracted deserved attention. Another of the most
prominent representatives of Norwegian dramatic music, Gerhard
Schjelderup (born 1859), who lives abroad, has just been honoured
by the Storthing, who has voted him an annual pension.
An account of Norwegian music would not be complete
without a mention of the male choirs, which have played a very
prominent part in musical life. The great epoch-making awakening
in this domain took place when Joh. D. Behrens (1820—1890), in
the middle of the forties, founded the Students, the Mercantile,
and the Artisans’ Choral Societies in Kristiania. Since that time,
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
