Nils Okland & Sigbjorn Apeland Duo
Violinist Nils Økland and keyboardist Sigbjørn Apeland have been musicians for thirty years, and have long explored the intersections between Norwegian traditional music and improvisation. Their latest album, Glimmer, released in 2023 on ECM, is an exceptionally beautiful and moving work that draws on the folk music of the Haugalandet region in western Norway. On this evening, we will experience this ambient music, combining Norwegian folk and ECM-style jazz, up close and personal - with a Hardanger violin and a harmonium.
Prior to the concert, journalist-editor Adrienn Csepelyi will have a short chat with the artists.
Schedule
The two musicians first played together on Økland's 1996 folk, contemporary and improvisational album Blå Harding, and their friendship and working relationship has continued ever since. Apeland is a member of the Nils Økland Band, but has also released duo and trio albums. The two of them together paid tribute to Norwegian violinist Ole Bull in 2011 on the album Lysøen - Hommage À Ole Bull, but their next duo album had to wait twelve years, but it was worth it. Released in 2023, Glimmer came from Apeland, a collection of songs from local singers in the Haugalandet region who helped keep the tradition alive. This formed the basis of the repertoire, which was later supplemented with original compositions of their own. These range from pieces written for a film about Lars Hertervig, the great 19th century Norwegian landscape painter, to music inspired by the modernist composer Fartein Valen. The playing of the two musicians and the combination of the two instruments is even more amazing live than on record.
House of Music Hungary
A music education centre and concert venue in the heart of the City Park, behind the airy futuristic glass facade of Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto.
