(1888PressRelease)
March 07, 2008 - Beginning on the fjord carved coastline of Norway with Grieg’s “Holberg Suite”, and ending in the splendor of the mountains and archipelago of Sweden with Dag Wiren’s “Serenade for Strings” Music Director, Federico Cortese closes New England String Ensemble’s 14th concert season with a journey through the “Nordic Landscape”. The concerts, featuring Icelandic violinist Judith Ingolfsson, are Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 7:30pm in Cochran Chapel at Phillips Academy in Andover and Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 3:00pm in Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory in Boston.
The highly acclaimed Ms. Ingolfsson performs Icelandic composer Haflidi Hallgrimsson’s “Poemi” and Finnish great, Jean Sibelius’ “Humoresque”. Rounding out the program is “Little Suite” by Danish cultural icon, Carl Nielsen.
The 1998 Gold Medalist of the prestigious International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, Judith Ingolfsson has established herself worldwide as an artist of uncompromising musical maturity, extraordinary technical command and charismatic performance style. Following her performance of Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in 2007 the Lexington Herald-Leader wrote, “the violin is a furious, stormy wind, and Ingolfsson rode that wind with aplomb. Her best tone was her singing low strings, as though a human voice is offering solace. She negotiated the virtuoso sections of the finale like a kayaker in ruinously difficult river rapids -- not one wipe-out.”
Honorary Chairman for the “Nordic Landscape” concerts is Norwegian four-time gold medal Olympic speed skater, Johann Olav Koss. Over the course of his speed skating career Koss broke a total of 11 world records, won three World All-Round Championships, numerous World Cups and National championships. Most memorably in 1994 he won three gold medals at the Lillehammer Games in the 1500, 5000, and 10,000 meter events and was named Sports Illustrated magazine's Sportsman of the Year. After his speed skating career, Koss trained as a physician and became a UNICEF ambassador and a member of the International Olympic Committee (until 2002). Koss is now the CEO of the International Humanitarian Organization, Right To Play which uses sport and play as a tool for the development of children and youth in the most disadvantaged areas of the world.
Also representing the Nordic Landscape as Honorary Patrons for the evening are each of the five Nordic Consuls; from the Royal Norwegian Consulate, Boston - Honorary Consul Terje Korsnes, from the Consulate of Sweden, Boston - Honorary Consul Dr. Allen Counter and Vice Consul Margareta Sewerin-Olsson, from the Consulate of Denmark, Boston - Honorary Consul - Jacob Friis, from the Consulate of Iceland, Boston - Honorary Consul - Elisha F. Lee and from the Consulate of Finland, Boston - Honorary Consul General Leonard Kopelman.
For insight into the “Nordic Landscape” program, ticket holders should arrive 45-minutes prior to the concert start for a "Conversation with Cortese", an interactive discussion about the composers and pieces with Music Director Federico Cortese. Following the concert, and free to ticket holders, will be a Nordic themed reception.
Tickets are on sale now through New England String Ensemble’s website at http://www.newenglandstringensemble.org and the NESE box office at 781-224-1117.
