Norway Connections: Visit to Vardo

Today we paid homage to the great Norwegian composer, Edvard Grieg, affectionately known to his friends as Vardo (or so Tonnes says). Grieg's home in Bergen is called Troldhaugen, and is on the southern outskirts of town. We took a bus out to his villa/museum, went through the museum display which Tonnes had put together about 10 years ago (and is still very good!), had coffee and a little snack, and then enjoyed the daily concert in the Troldsalen or concert hall. The pianist played several of Grieg's delightful short works for piano, including Two Norwegian Peasant Dances, The Wedding at Troldhaugen, Notturno and Trolltog. He also played a beautiful piece by Geirr Tveitt (1908-1981), another Norwegian composer; it was a modern piece, but based on a folk melody from the Hardanger region and very lyrical. (there will be a quiz at the end of the blog ;-p)

Grieg's home, Troldhaugen

Lots of rhododendrons around the property

This is the concert hall; it stairsteps down the hill and they've done the sod roof thing--very Norwegian.

At the bottom of the hill is Grieg's "composing hut" where he would work,
because he didn't like anyone listening to him while he was composing or practicing.
There is a window in the hut facing the lake with a lovely view.

Down at the hut, looking back at the concert hall; the stage is right by those glass windows,
so you have a view of the composer hut and the lake during the concert.

inside the concert hall

When Dad visited Troldhaugen with Tonnes back in the 90s, they had gone at an after-hours time, and because Tonnes worked there, Dad was invited to play the piano inside Grieg's house! I have a photo that Tonnes took of Dad. It was very special for me to stand in that room, knowing Dad had been there. When I asked Warren to take a picture of me beside the piano, the attendant informed us that photos were not allowed. So I only have photos of the outside, and now I know that the photo I have of Dad is very special indeed!