Grand Opening and Night Concerts
With peppered trout from Noraker Gård, flatbreads with cured lamb, and Valdres Brie with jelly from Vang, it was a feast for the palate—but above all for the ears and soul. Musical samples topped it all off, and audiences both in Oslo and Fagernes were surprised with new concert venues and an exciting program.
From June 25 to 29, Valdres will be filled with the sounds of some of Norway’s and the world’s leading musicians as Valdres Summer Symphony 2025 kicks off. The festival, known for its unique combination of stunning nature and world-class classical music, offers a diverse program of concerts, masterclasses, and artistic experiences.
The festival will begin on June 25 with a grand opening concert in Valdreshallen. Alexander Rybak is finally back in Valdres and, together with Felix Peikli and his jazz band, will perform his own jazz arrangements.
Alf Richard Kraggerud presents this year's program to the audience. All photos: Arina Karbovskaya
– I’ve had a chance to hear some previews of what they will be performing, and I would love to hear it again, says Alf Richard Kraggerud, who presented the program to the audience.
He particularly highlights Felix Peikli:
– Felix is one of the few who can do the nearly impossible on the clarinet—he plays without needing to breathe! He just keeps going and going. But when does he actually breathe? wonders Kraggerud, looking out at a puzzled audience. He breathes in while he breathes out! he concludes, as the audience gasps in pure surprise.
The classic audience favorites are also included: Schubert and Prokofiev are on the program for the opening concert. And it’s not just anyone performing these masterpieces – Ung Filharmoni, which provides the festival audience with grand symphonic experiences every year, is ready to do it again.
Opening the Doors to The Castle
Many have been following the construction of The Castle in Lobygda, built by the German entrepreneur and investor Norbert Kühn. He came to Valdres more than thirty years ago and promotes The Castle as “a fairytale for all guests who want to enjoy delicious food, wellness, and lodging.”
– The best thing about the whole place is the panoramic view. In the evening, Fagernes looks just like little St. Moritz, Kühn said in an interview with NRK in 2012.
We will explore this by organizing Night at the Castle. To accommodate all audience members, we invite you to two concerts featuring music by Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert—Wednesday, June 25 at 9:30 PM, and Saturday, June 28 at 9:30 PM.
And no doubt—you will get a tour of The Castle while enjoying the music, which we believe is a perfect fit for this location and setting.
Varied Program
Throughout the festival days, the audience can enjoy everything from Tango for 2+3 at Fagernes Cultural Center to a grand concert where Siegfried's horn calls us to Slidredomen.
A series of open masterclasses will provide insight into the work of professional musicians, while Yoga with Bach at Nythun and Grieg in the Mountains!, which tempts audiences with some of Grieg's most famous works, can both surprise and take your breath away.
Is it possible to fit more operatic gems into one concert? Yes, if it's held on Vesleøya—a small island connected to Fagernes by a bridge. There you will hear Ebba Lejonclou, a rising star from Stockholm, Eirik Grøtvedt, who recently won Equinor’s talent scholarship and is the new soloist with The Norwegian Opera, as well as our renowned baritone Yngve Søberg. Alexander Rybak will play the violin, while Stefan Ibsen Zlatans will bring it all together from the piano.
For those seeking a combination of food and music, there are several highlights to look forward to. Afternoon Tea at Piltingsrud Gard offers a tasty experience, while the Fest Concert at Nythun promises an evening of culinary and musical delights from Franz Lehár, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Dmitri Shostakovich, and others. The festival also offers visual and scenic highlights, such as Chaplin in the Rain with improvised music played by fantastic musicians during the screening of Charlie Chaplin's silent film Caught in the Rain at Scandic Valdres, as well as Summer Ballet in Valdres, featuring talents from Valdres Summer Ballet and internationally renowned dancers performing the summer's most beautiful dance pieces to the music of Tchaikovsky, Debussy, and Massenet.
Closing the Festival with Schubert
The festival concludes on June 29 with the classical song cycle Die Schöne Müllerin by Franz Schubert at Piltingsrud Gard, before both festival musicians and young talents gather for the Postlude at Valdres Folk High School.
– With this varied program, we promise that Valdres Summer Symphony 2025 will be an unforgettable music festival for both connoisseurs and newcomers, young and adult audiences, says director Mona Kleven.
The program, tickets, and further information can be found here.
