Norway's blog

MICs festival calendar has seen an extensive update and now features more than 200 Norwegian festivals.

Late April Music Export Norway’s UK office officially opened at a well-attended event at the Norwegian Ambassador’s residence in London.

The Norwegian Opera is postponing its debut of "Around the World in 80 Days" until next season, because of security concerns involving stage equipment at Oslo's new Opera House.

Kaizers Orchestra’s upcoming forth album release is a partial departure from the framework the band has hitherto been associated with. “Maskineri” (machinery) is no less than the first of the new albums from a band that has reinvented itself, if one is to believe the excited delineations of front man Janove Ottosen.

Alongside Liverpool, the Norwegian city of Stavanger has been chosen as the European Capital of Culture 2008. Both cities will mark the year with opening ceremonies at the weekend of 11 and 12 January.

Prepare for one of 2007/2008’s most exciting debuts: singer-songwriter / multi-instrumentalist Silje Nes and her new Fat Cat release ‘Ames Room’.

The vastly successful neo-classical duo Secret Garden releases a special anniversary album featuring performances by such vocal stars as Barbara Streisand, Elaine Paige, Brian Kennedy, Tommy Körberg and many more.

2007 has been a spectacular year for the New York-based Norwegian producer duo Stargate, i.e Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel S. Eriksen. Now regarded perhaps the most important producers around, their breakthrough year in American music is summed up by their five (!) Grammy nominations.

At the age of 21, Norwegian violinist Vilde Frang is already in the position most classical soloists can only dream of reaching: firmly established in the upper echelon of performers, sought-after by the great orchestras and collaborating closely with one of the superstars of classical music, Anne Sophie Mutter.

The positive trend on the domestic market continues – sales were up in October.

Christmas is coming up! One of Norway’s dearest treasures, vocalist Sissel Kyrkjebø has already gotten her first present: her new Christmas album is on top of the U.S. Billboard classical music chart

The Norwegian Stargate’s Tor Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen receive songwriter of the year honors at the 27th Annual Ascap Awards in London

Norway’s first music download service, musiconline.no, has lifted all DRM protection on its catalogue of almost 100 000 songs, which will now be available in Mp3 format.

From October 16, hordes of bands will participate in the annual CMJ Music Marathon. And Norway attends with full force; no less than six bands will be performing.

MIC Norway launches an ingenious new web site dedicated to the exploration of Norwegian music. Kaleidofon caters to the joy of whimsical exploration and creative learning in its dynamic and organic form.

On September 28th the Ultima festival for contemporary music opens in Oslo. The program is more extensive than ever, with names and events that prove Ultima’s coming of age as a festival of international magnitude.

The Music Information Centre Norway establishes a new Marketing Department in Bergen.