What is the Edvard Grieg Society
We promote the music of Edvard Grieg and other Nordic composers. For example:
- present concerts of Norwegian and other Nordic music by local and visiting artists;
- sponsor juried competitions among young artists;
- present symposia, workshops and other educational activities; and,
- disseminate information about Nordic concerts regionally, nationally and internationally among organizations with similar purposes.
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Engaging Lectures
Exciting Competitions
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The cost of membership is just $50 for individuals or $75 for households. Membership fees are applied to costs associated with presenting concerts, competitions, symposia and other events consistent with our mission. Your membership fee will help to make it possible for us to offer “pay as you can” admission to everyone for all performances.
As a member, you will have a voice in the governance of the Edvard Grieg Society. You will be invited to attend the annual meeting of the Society, where we will hear reports on the activities of the Society during the current year, approve plans for the forthcoming year, and nominate board members. Members are also encouraged to perform volunteer services to the Society consistent with their abilities and time constraints, to invite friends to attend events sponsored by the Society, and to make voluntary contributions to the Society consistent with their interest, ability, and other charitable commitments.
Not ready for membership? Your donations will help fund our activities as well. Thank you for your support!
What came first? The words of the music?
In the case of today's world premiere of "The Temptations of Veslemøy" it was the words. The piece premieres today at 4:00 at Mindekirken – The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church in Minneapolis.
When Bill Halverson took on the translation of Arne Garborg's 70 poem "Haugtussa" collection, he found there was more to the story than the love story portrayed in the eight songs that Grieg famously set to music. Bill's friend, Norwegian composer Kjell Habbestad was inspired to write music to go along with the English texts of Halverson's translation to tell the other-worldly backstory of Haugtussa, our clairvoyant mountain pasture heroine.
Composer Kjell Habbestad (b. 1955, Bremnes in Bømlo, Norway) is Professor Emeritus of Theory and Composition at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, Norway. He received his professional training at the same institution, after which he taught music theory at the Bergen Music Conservatory (1981–86), the Music Conservatory of Eastern Norway (1986–96), and at the Norwegian Academy of Music 1996-2022. Habbestad has been a prolific composer throughout his career. His catalog of works (115 opuses) includes four operas, orchestral works, chamber works for various combinations of instruments and choral works. He also has a number of recordings.
Translator/librettist Dr. William H. Halverson is well known internationally as the translator of books and other materials dealing with Norwegian music, particularly the music of Edvard Grieg. His books "Edvard Grieg: Letters to Colleagues and Friends" (2000) and "Edvard Grieg: Diaries, Articles, Speeches" (2001) enable English-speaking readers to learn intimate details about Grieg's life and work in the composer's own words. A specialist in the translation of poetry, Dr. Halverson has translated all the song texts of Grieg. … See MoreSee Less
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Three instrumentalists are, well, instrumental to Sunday's World Premiere of Kjell Habbestad's "The Temptations of Veslemøy" setting William Halverson's groundbreaking English translations of Arne Garborg's "Haugtussa" for soprano, alto, baritone, oboe, double bass, and piano.
Oboist Merilee Klemp received the B.A. in Music Education from Augsburg College, the M.A. in Musicology from the University of Minnesota, and the D.M.A. in Oboe Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music. She is an active performer and recording artist int he Twin Cities, playing regularly with the Minnesota Sinfonia, and most recently playing for the Guthrie’s summer production of “South Pacific.” She currently teaches at Augsburg College and Carleton College. She is married to composer and cellist Randall Davidson and they have one son, Benjamin.
Bassist Rolf Erdahl teaches bass at Gustavus Adolphus College. He performs with the Mankato Symphony, and freelances in the Twin Cities. Rolf and his wife Carrie Vecchione perform and teach as OboeBass!, the world’s only professional oboe/bass duo, creating the oboe/bass genre through their commissions, performances, recordings, educational programs. Erdahl wrote his doctoral dissertation on Grieg’s Cello and Violin Sonatas and will soon release a recording performing his transcription of Grieg’s Cello Sonata.
Bryon Wilson is a freelance pianist based in Minneapolis, dividing his time between teaching, coaching, and performing. He has appeared with the Schubert Club, Source Song Festival, Thursday Musical, NATS, Mill City Opera, Out of the Box Opera, and River Sounds in Ft. Lauderdale. Bryon also studies and performs music composed by holocaust prisoners in Theresienstadt and recently presented a lecture recital on the topic as part of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas series on Holocaust survivors in Minnesota. Bryon is pianist for The Singers – Minnesota Choral Artists, on the faculty of MacPhail Center for Music, and is organist at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Edina. Bryon also spends two months every summer commercial salmon fishing in Bristol Bay, Alaska. … See MoreSee Less
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How many trolls came to your doorstep for Halloween? Baritone Justin Spenner plays a troll and other supernatural creatures out to snatch Veslemøy from the straight and narrow way. He also serves as narrator in the Sunday, Nov. 2 world premiere of Habbestad's "The Temptations of Veslemøy." 4:00 pm at Mindekirken.
Justin Spenner (they/he) is a "wild and anxious ride" (Star Tribune) known for their captivating work that spans opera, art song, chamber, avant-garde/experimental, folk, and metal. Justin has performed with Mixed Precipitation, 113 Composers, Mississippi Valley Orchestra, Bach Society of MN, Nautilus Music-Theatre, An Opera Theatre, Opera on the Lake, and Border Crossing. An accomplished improvisor, Justin regularly makes up music in dark, hip venues like Resource, Berlin, Barely Brothers Records, and random alleyways. Justin's self-produced work includes 10+ years of multi-practice tinkering with Schubert's Die Winterreise, the long-form metal band (ab)scheid, avant-choirband To Be Named, the art song duo poem|music, and multi-genre concerts under the B-Sides moniker. As a Teaching Artist they teach a small clutch of interesting singers. They have two charming cats named Percy and Motley. … See MoreSee Less
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Meet the ghost of our "Temptations of Veslemøy" story: alto Judith Melander. She sings the role of the spirit of Veslemøy's departed sister, who guides Veslemøy past her string of otherworldly temptations. World premiere of Kjell Habbestad's composition to William Halverson's translations of Arne Garborg's "Haugtussa" texts this Sunday, Nov 2, 4:00 pm,. Mindekirken, Minneapolis.
Judith is a performer, teacher, and music director with over 25 years of experience in the Twin Cities musical community. She has sung with the Minnesota Opera Chorus, Minnesota Chorale, North Star Opera, and Center City Opera Company, and she has appeared as a soloist with the Oratorio Society of Minnesota, the Mississippi Valley Orchestra, and the Kenwood Symphony Orchestra. Since 2013, she has performed locally and internationally with the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, under the direction of Philip Brunelle. Judith is the Director of Music Ministry at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, where she directs the Sanctuary Choir and various instrumental groups. … See MoreSee Less
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Have we got a ghost story for you!
"The Temptations of Veslemøy" tells of the trials of the clairvoyant shepherd girl Veslemøy, whose dear departed sister is her spirit guide through her temptations.
Along the way she contends with trolls, mountain creatures, witches, and emissaries of the Devil himself.
Hear how it all turns out at the world premiere of "The Temptations of Veslemøy" this Sunday at 4:00 at Mindekirken in Minneapolis.
Music for soprano, alto, and baritone soloists, oboe, piano, and bass by Kjell Habbestad. Texts translated from Arne Garborg's "Haugtussa" by Dr. William Halverson.
No actual trolls will be harmed in the course of this production. … See MoreSee Less
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Meet Veslemøy!
Melissa Holm Johansen sings the title role on Sun., Nov. 2 at Mindekirken in the world premiere of Kjell Habbestad''s "The Temptations of Veslemøy," based on the mountain shepherd heroine of Arne Garborg's masterpiece Norwegian verse poem, "Haugtussa."
In 2020 she recorded "Edvard Grieg: Songs from the Heart," performing Grieg songs translated into English by William Halverson. This collaboration inspired Halverson to take on the first full English language translation of Haugtussa, which in turn inspired Kjell Habbestad to compose "The Temptations of Veslemøy" for Soprano, Alto, and Baritone Soloists, Oboe, Piano, and Double Bass.
Melissa is a lyric soprano and voice teacher based in Minneapolis. She continues to promote art song in performance, advocating for local composers and premiering their pieces for Source Song Festival. An ensemble singer as well as a solo artist, Melissa has appeared with First Readings Project, Bach Roots Festival, The Dale Warland Singers, The Singers – Minnesota Choral Artists, The Minnesota Beethoven Festival Chorus, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Chorale, The Oratorio Society, The Saint Olaf Choir, and The Norwegian Youth Choir.
A native of Halden, Norway, Melissa earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in vocal pedagogy and performance from the University of MN and graduated cum laude from St. Olaf College.
Dr. Holm-Johansen serves with the voice faculty at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. She also maintains a vibrant and active home studio. A longtime member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), she is a recipient of the NATS Independent Teacher Award. Melissa is a certified vinyasa yoga teacher and avid golfer. She lives in St. Louis Park, Minnesota with her partner, Doug Rohde, and their 3-year-old husky mix rescue dog, Vesla.
www.melissaholmjohansen.com … See MoreSee Less
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2:00 today at the Danish American Center.
Learn about Edvard Grieg's close connections to Denmark and the Danish language in this lecture recital presented by Dr. William Halverson, soprano Melissa Holm-Johansen, and pianist Jim Reilly. Music of Edvard Grieg, Niels Gade, and more.
A presentation of the Leif Eriksson International Festival. … See MoreSee Less
“Norway’s Son, Denmark’s Son-in-Law” Grieg in Denmark | LEIFmn
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A presentation by Dr. Bill Halverson about Edvard Grieg’s time in Denmark. Also featuring music by Niels Gade, performed by Jim Reilly, piano and Melissa Holm-Johansen, soprano.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
A gala 2:00 ELMO Catering buffet luncheon at Norway House on November 2 precedes the 4:00 world premiere of Kjell Habbestad's "The Temptations of Veslemøy" at neighboring Mindekirken. Brian Newhouse, former Managing Director of MPR/APM’s classical programming, will interview composer Kjell Habbestad and translator/librettist Bill Halverson in anticipation of the 4:00 world premiere.
Cost for the luncheon is $29.99, payable at this link. The concert is general admission, with a free-will offering. … See MoreSee Less
The Temptations of Veslemøy: Lunch – The Edvard Grieg Society of Minnesota
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