The world’s stiffest Belly Dancer…
Ze festival has started! What an evening it has been for us, the performers. The audience is just so fantastic. If there is something you want to ask, or say, or…feel very welcome to do it here!
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I have now made an evaluation of my Berwald festival at Sandö and I would like to share some insights from my students after “the happening”.
This is what they got from it:
“If you really try, you can manage almost anything!” Fredrik
“All people don´t work in the same way” Jesper
“Don´t worry even if you don´t feel inspired. It will come!” Martin
“It´s a lot of job behind!” Sofie
“We can have fun together!” Linn
“Rely in people! They will do what they are put to do!” Martin
“Cooperation is a good thing. We made a fine job together!” Liselotte
“It brought us closer to each other” Malin
“Don´t give up! It is possible to make a project like this!” Benjamin
“Without your energy Marianne, it would not have been this wonderful day!” Emil
And this energy I brought from Växjö and the Tengstrandfestival and all of you
involved! I am so thankful!
And I am sure your festival Per gave more “ringar på vattnet”
I think wer’e moving this discussion to the forum now… Let’s continue there!
Oh dear! There´s a lot for me to know about music as I am brought up with “Tio i topp” and Chalmersspex! I am so glad to get ideas where to start listening. Please tell me your favorite things!
I MUST add that Stenhammar rules my swedish heart too. But Berwald has written one or two nice pieces…
I’ll conduct the orchestral piece “mellanspelet till SÅNGEN, op 44″ by Stenhammar in a symphony concert in Växjö 1 of june. Love it!
Thank you Peter J. for your participation in the Tengstrand festival!
Without people like you there won´t be any party at all!
Ehum, yes…certainly Peter Johansson and I had three thousand and fiftyseven non-musical details to deal with, BUT…that’s when it’s absolutely imperative to deal with musicians like Jonas, Ola, the Trondheim Soloists, etc. There is no way such an evening is possible with “classical music divas” who can’t be flexible. And this is a major reason why the concert came out so well.
Berwald…I’m more of a Stenhammar fan, but I should look this stuff up. Haven’t listened to Berwald in years! Sounds like a wonderful festival, Marianne!
If anyone would like to send a note to Växjö, you can send it to:
Lars-Evert Ekman
Växjö kommun • Box 1222 • 351 12 Växjö
or e-mail:
info@kommun.vaxjo.se
Weberkvartetten from Härnösand played Stråkkvartett nr.3 i Ess-dur(1849) and they made it so wonderful. As a start of the day a musician from Svanö played a part from Symfoni Singuliere on horn (the old instrument). Next time we can take all of it! You are welcome!
The music school of the commune had sponsored their students so there were quite a lot young people here.
Wow, Berwald-dagen, great idea! I can only hope and wish that you played his FANTASTIC Symfoni Singuliere (nr 3)…
I’m glad everything turned out well!
And also thanks for your kind words! As conductor you have to deal with both the very smallest details and the largest picture at the same time. But the festival and the large arrangement was all Per and Peter’s job!
Inspired of you Per, Jonas and Ola, yesterday i arranged something called “Berwald dagen”
at Sandö, an island where Franz B. lived eight years of his life making glasses.( You know many great composers have to die before people enjoy their music).
I mixed folk music from this region, symphonic music, covers of modern music and joic inspired music. Not in the same concert as you Per did but in the same house in the same day. It was your idea with something for everyone, for every music taste and every age.
We even offered babysitting service and a real rescue helicopter to visit. And much more!
It became a success ( of course) for the idea is so great!
But Jonas, first now I really understand what a fantastic job you made in Växjö! To survey everything and at the same time deal with hundreds of details. To have patience with stupid people, be kind and have total control ( well, try to).
After this day half a glass of champagne was more than well but thanks again all of you! ( I have already a new idea in my head)
Marianne and Christina…I agree that it can be hard sometimes when something like that is over. But since I am constantly dealing with both videos and the recording of Karl’s Concerto, I feel like I’m still “in” this project. I can only promise that I will not forget all of you who as an very active audience helped us to make this concert being such an event. I think the artists also felt like it should not be the last time we did something like this. And, if you want, feel free to write to Växjö Kommun and tell them you liked it and that you would love if something like this happened again…;)
A week after the concert in Växjö on the 26:th of April I talked to some friends who were there and we had the same problem. How to handle this feeling of abstinence after a weekend so full of love, music and passion? How do we take advantage of it and bring this experience with us in our daily life?
I don´t want it just to be a peak experience once in a lifetime ( it was!) but something that makes me stronger, more brave and more loving in my relations.
For myself I practice yoga and meditation but I am sure there are other ways to keep it alive. What about you?
Thank you Marianne, those kids were so wonderful…and I hope they will do more because of this. I like those kaleidoscopes by the way!
Emma Svanholm-M. made a great program today in P2 about your work with inspiring young boys and girls to make there own music. It became so evident that they need a platform, a place to connect with other teenagers to be able to go on with their music. It´s so important at that age not to feel alone with what your doing.
Well ,that is important at any age!!
And you gave them this meeting place Per! Fine!
Oh look – kaleidoscopes even here! Mine is azure!! (MFF:)
Thank you for your story Per. It IS a brilliant idea to help your audience approach Apassionata a new way. mäktigt
Thank you my dear friends, it’s great to read your comments. And I love that quote!
I wish too that I would have been able to listen more of your music and also your wife´s Shan Shan Sun `s playing. I found that Lenin-Beethoven concept was very interesting.
Keep going on with this festival Tengstrand!
But… don´t waite for ten years to put out the material you have had recorded at the conserts!
Anyway, I must say that I`m most glad that some afterparties, like that one in your kitchen about ten years ag,. leed to a better consequences than arguing and hospital visits… ;D
Interesting … well, of course not funny, but still interesting. Internet is full of these potatoes and, of course, they must exist somewhere IRL too.
Some people really should get a life …
But let me remind you of a quote by Ola, although it is a free quote and a free translation:
“I don’t want to be in a band that is not threatened to be beaten up all the time…”
Of course a lot of good things come out of this! A festival with so many emotions, that is really something worth to remember! Not exactly a sleeping pill, this one. Oh, I wish I could have been there all week.
The power of music is really strong! In all it´s aspects.I´m sorry for your concert Per! I think it was a good thing to focus on Lenin and how music affects you. I am astonished that there still are people today in Sweden who support Lenin. We should know better!
May be something good will come out from this?
Keep going Per! We love you!
Marianne
After I played in St. Petersburg one and a half year ago, I became pretty interested in the Russian Revolution, which I knew very little of. When I read that Lenin loved Beethoven I thought that was very intriguing, of course, especially since he clearly was capable of feeling the music very strongly. It seems like he was a person who would not let anyone influence him, and he was able to make decisions such as the mass hanging of 100 Kulaks and at the same time the music of Beethoven moved him to be more in touch with a softer side, so to speak. And as a ruler of a dictatorship, he was not interested in using music as a propaganda tool, but saw music as making people stronger and less willing to follow “the cause”, hence more of a threat than a tool. The idea was not political at all, but I wanted to focus on the impact music can have, and that obviously Lenin who could just put away any empathy for people’s suffering felt and understood hat impact. It’s fascinating…
I like the concept of this festival, such a kaleidoscope… with always shifting perspectives and shifting variety in audience. How did you come to the idea of bringing Beethoven and Lenin together? Who did a little research for this program?
Well, this person was part of the extreme left and just went there to sabotage the concert. The whole crowd were shouting that he should be thrown out. Next time I do this program I will have security people who can throw out a potato like that. It is absolutely unacceptable and actually illegal to destroy a concert by starting to shout from the back seat. It’s a tragic person, for sure. I have matured enough in life so that I can be friends with a person that have other views on politics. Sven Wollter and I had a very interesting discussion without any dislike of each other whatsoever. But this person was clearly deranged…
I just read what you wrote about the performance
“5/5 Beethoven och Lenin
”it is always interesting to get direct feedback but not always so constructive.
i have a memory from my time in Växjö when a person stood up in the Service during my sermon and started to attack what I said… The people in Småland don’t keep quite when they have an opinion…
I do hope you were able to get through the performance and were able to play for those who were there to listening!
It has taken me some time to get in here and add my 2 cents…
But a d-tour past hospital visit etc has given me some time to think it over also.
And I so enjoyed last Saturday evening! Just sitting there surrounded by magic sounds.
It was like a cake with several fantastic layers, one as tasty as the others but still different!
Just a big Thank You to all involved!
I have been waiting for the “gift” to appear in my mailbox after the guessing in the Arkeology contest… Unfortunately I have not receive any.
But, since I was lucky enough to sit in the audience on the first saturday consert, I am not so sad, but verly very curius.
A big thank you to all you amazing people that were on stage. You were great!
Fantastic, and I really mean it! It´s not like “oh, I need to say something positive”.. I really loved the music! You should think about making a CD with all the material from the concert (now that you´ve already put down so much work on it, I mean, wouldn´t it be a little sad if for example Jonas’ Arkeology would never be played again?). I would definitly buy it. And thank you for the “tröstpris” that you´ve sent us with e-mail!
Hej!
Jag har faktiskt inte fått något mail… Jag vet inte om det är min hotmail det är fel på men jag tror inte det…
Nåja, tack för alla de underbara klippen från i växjö, jättekul att se, speciellt för alla vi som inte var där
Thanks Per for this funny, beautiful and very special gift to us! With this present we will never forget the evening in Växjö. And as Yvonne said: In spite of almost no right answer. It makes me love contests.Yes, this festival has put things up and down.
Almost everything is possible? I had a grumpy lady with my side during the concert. In the beginning she never smiled, seemed to be there because it´s fine with culture and you should be there. At the end she stood up laughing and coudn´t stop applauding the show. So the love that Christina talked about even embraced old ladies i the public.
Thanks again Per that you took your time . That´s another gift to us.
Per!
Thank you so much for my award for guessing… mostly wrong. But anyway, I enjoy my new german song a lot!
Yes, Sidrah, thank you also for giving colour and grace to the show. (Although Ola’s little ballet at the end was rather unbeatable
Like Karl Marx goes Swan Lake. And he could sing too!)
Well, Per, I haven’t figured out why you chose “Winter” and not “Spring” from Vivald. Maybe I’m stupid? Well, not that Winter is not lovely and so on.
Some weeks ago I claimed here in the blog that it felt like being invited to a party rather than going to a concert. That is something very unique, probably the best that can happen to a concert, and you DID it. It was definitely party mood and we all felt so welcome. And yes, we wept and we laughed! There were so many Ark fans who love Ola very much, and that night I could see that love embracing to all artists. And yeah, the mingle at PM was simply great, I agree with Sidrah: KISS on violins! Wonderful! Totally unexpected and very funny. Violinists jamming in a bar in the middle of the night, that was really something worth seeing.
So, the party went on for us until very late (or mybe very early) and we are still trying to digest the experience from this fabulous weekend.
Too bad this was not broadcasted on TV. Should have been the event of the year.
Sidrah! People kept asking me “how did you find her?!” I couldn’t beleieve I was so lucky to choose the best Belly Dancer in the world, and such a great person and performer! Thank you Sidrah for coming to Växjö and making the concert even better!
What a blast! What a wonderful concert!
Per rocks!!!!!!
Definitely he rocks! Great human being! Intelligent! Entertaining! Extremely creative! And then he is simply the best pianist of the world!!!
I just want to say thank you for everything…thanks for making me being a part of all this…it was an amazing experience with some wonderful people. Jonas, the genius! What a brilliant work on the master-piece, Arkeology! Ola a real mind-blowing artist! And performer! I loved: “I want to (sing a song)”. Your wonderful sister, Anna. The percussionist, working in DK. Everybody behind the scene and the incredible Trondheim soloists! I loved the Prince’s KISS played later that night (after the concert!).
I am sure the rest of this festival will be as fantastic!
May you keep making your audience and people around you happy and giving them such unforgettable memories!
With best wishes from Denmark
Oh it’s wonderful piece of music, Ola’s such a talent ! Love it though I didn’t unerstand what he said at the beginning. something funny, I guess. Thanks a lot Per!
It’s coming today!
Not that I would be hasty or something, but I wonder if the prize that was promised to everyone has already been sent to people? If so, I didn’t get it…
Makes me kind of “angry” thinking of everyone having great memories and feelings because of the concert, as I was forced to miss it totally!
…”of electrons,energy and black holes”. Thats is SO cool!
Piano Concert no.1 was really something…I’ve never heard before. That no one had heard before, I assume. It was, and I hope this description doesn’t sound too mean, but like sitting in your apartment listening to classical music while your neighbor plays his (or hers) electronic music too loud. I love the idea of putting these two different genres of music in the same melting pot.
Something new was born last weekend!
The night between 26th and 27th of April the cherrytrees started flowering around the lake of Växjö!
I walked( on Per`s recommendation)around the sea to purify my mind after all “headbanging” this incredable day and evening had given.
To have this opportunity to be in place when something new is born is so special
and I feel very honored!
And this new happend three times during the evening!
First I met Karl`s Piano concert, a mixture of strings and electronics inspired (as he told me) of electrons,energy and black holes. So fresh and wonderful!!
For a teacher in natural science as me I will use this music in my education as soon as it comes so hurry on Karl and Per!
The second new to be introduced was Ola´s “I want to (sing a song called…)”
I heard this song in my head even when I went to bed. Of course it`s special!
So brilliant in it´s simplicity. So strong!
And finally we had Jonas´ Arkeology!
First I was caunting songs but after a while when I realized that was no idea (Jonas told me not even Ola recognized them all for the first time he heard the piece) I just listened and enjoyed it! So beautiful and embraceing! What a magical wholeness you have made out of this songs Jonas! No surprise that the audience never stopped applauding it.
And thank´s Ola for giving Jonas “free hands” to work with your music! Trustful
indeed!
I want to listen to this music soon again. Is there a “black market ” anyone?´
(Just to push you J+O+P)
Calleth you.. in a new way with all musicans involved was a splended final.
A solist from Trondheim told me there was a moment during the latest concert when everything cooperated and the music got so magic.
Not enough with this, there was an marvellous encore. So intelligent and funny!
As Ola doesn´t belong to the “fine culture” Per and Ola changed rolls. Per trained oriental belly dance, and Ola sang the most fine cultural piece you can find:
Deutche Lieder aus Goethe. So excellent! What a show!!
I want to thank my new friends, all ARK-fans! It´s good when you have people around you to which you can talk about this fantastic show over and over again and they never get tired of it but get new points all the time.
I will also give an eloge to you Ola if you read this. I appreciated very much that you gave me some minutes to talk about inspiration and work when I knew you were in the middle of the rehearsal. You know what mindfulnes is and how to pracise it!
Finally! Thanks Per !
Coming back to ones hometown and give such a contribution as you do is great.
To brake down walls between music gendres, and generations of people is even greater!
Your hands played the piano as intense and sensible despite what kind of music you delivered.
Indeed an energy highering weekend!
And the white wine at PM did fit in!
Take care all of you and have a good time!
Per, thank you for an absolutely magic evening. When the so called compere presented the show (if i may call it that) the second time and said that we, the audience, might think we were there because we bought tickets, but no…we were there because Per loves us. I don’t know if it’s necessarily true, but it was such a fantastic way to put it. I felt so welcome and appreciated and yes, loved. And Per, if you ever get tired of being a world famous pianist, you can always work as a stand up comedian. Especially what happened during the first concert felt so…damn honest. Jonas who brought out your notes that you forgot, the wrong angle on the piano, when you thought you slipped your tongue while presenting Calleth. This is exactly how things become perfect, when you’re not afraid to make mistakes, or at least when you can laugh about it. A great lesson for all of us.
I haven’t seen the official Arkeology-list yet, and Jonas wouldn’t cave in to my demands (haha) but I’ve talked to and listened to other fans, and based on what they heard and based on the winner’s list, this is my conclusion:
Calleth
No End
AND
All I Want
Thorazine
Echo Chamber
Let Your Body
Radical
Tack Tack både Per, Ola och alla andra inblandade så jätte mycket för en helt sagolikt underbar konsert i lördags kväll.
det var så magiskt bra att de nästan inte går att beskriva med ord.
det är första gången musik rört mig till tårar, många tårar av glädje under arkologin och när ola “avsluta med Calleth”.
men det blev även an massa skratt till er undbara humor.
Tack igen, och hoppas verkligen att vi får se något liknade i framtiden.
//Zara
Thank you all so much! It means a lot: as long as you keep listening, we’ll keep playing…
Per!
Thank you for a wonderful concert! It was everything I hoped it would be and much more! I am still moved, happy and very touched by the event.
Only one thing still bothers me: that I couldn´t figure out all of the eight songs in Jonas wonderful Arkeology! Please post the songs here soon!
And pleeeease, continue to work with Ola and Jonas. The three of you together: pure magic!
Big hugs
You managed it! Congratulations and thanks to everybody for the wonderful afternoon! You set all my senses to work – here they are all my precious impressions, still under processing. Greetings to Per and Ola from my patients – they saw that I didn’t hesitate to go to Småland just for a couple of hours. True, the event was a b s o l u t e l y worth it.
Tack Per! När du spelade ett av de första ömma & mycket sköra tonerna till Calleth you Cometh I reste sig håren på mig. Tårarna rann sakta ner för min kind. Du förmedlade ner i dina tangenter just den känsla som denna låten betyder för mig. Den har varit lite av ett avsked oxå då The Ark just har den som avslutningslåt. Då man brukar gråta och sjunga om vart annat innan de säger farväl och lämnar scenen.Som när man ska lämna någon man älskar fast men vet att man snart ses. Men, när kärleken till musiken berör andra på ett sätt så att tiden nästan stannar. Det är då det har hänt ngt. Och det va just va som hände i Växjö konserthus. Hela konserten, alla musik och alla människor blev en helhet.
“It takes a fool to remain sain”
Tack Per! När du spelade ett av de första tonerna i Calleth you cometh I rullade tårar ner för min kind. När du genom musiken förde ner i dina tangenter just den där känslan som många av oss Ark fans har till denna låt. Du förmedlade kärlek via din musikalitet!
Det rörde vid min själ så som Olas musik för åtta år sen träffade mig rakt i hjärtat.
Hela konserten gjorde att tiden stannade, det finns ju ögonblick man alltid sparar.
Jag älskade Arkeologin och det sade jag till Jonas.
Sista numret du & Ola framförde gav och så mucket värme och goa skratt.
Musik ska ju byggas av glädje!
Hela konserten va helt enkelt helt underbar!!!
“It takes a fool to remain sain”
You try to think that every tomorrow will be the most beautiful day of your life .
Thanks Laura, I am practicing the piano the whole day to prepare for the next concert tomorrow, I would love to have a nice, free Sunday but no time
In the meantime good luck for the continuation of this festival.
We would love to make it happen again…with the best from this concert together with new stuff. Maybe we’ll do it in Norway next time!
I’m very happy that everything has been right!
Will be there another concert like this one next year?
With other eight songs … plus the eight of this year.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! What a wonderful, magic night! How relaxed, and yet so lovely in every aspect. I am happy for you and I am happy for me, who could attend this unique event.
And, Per. Liebestraum. Yes, I meant what I said. I will never forget this. Big hugs.
Tack för en helt underbar konsert:) Det är ett nöje att se dig och Ola tillsammans!