Hello Dear Friends!

I have had some wonderful days working with my band. We tried out some new songs at our concert in Alvdal, Tronsvangen Seterhotel. What a view and place for a concert! Perfect for our start ''Dovregubbens hall'' , from "Peer Gynt"  by Edvard Gireg! 

It was so nice to see some of you again from former shows. Thank you so much for coming all the way! I really do hope that you enjoyed the time up in the mountains as much as we did!

Now I will have some time off with my family and friends. Relaxing and enjoying the summer holiday.  But even though it is holiday I can't help my mind working with the new songs. Maybe I will get some new ideas? You never know.... But first I will go for a swim....

Take care and enjoy the summer!

;-)

Sissel

Rosendal

Hello dear friends!

Thank you so much for all your kind greetings for my birthday! I had a wonderful time with family and friends! -As I did the day before, so a bit tired at the end of the week.....

Now I am sitting at the castle 'Baroniet in Rosendal' writing to you. I had 2 concerts here with my guitarist , Geir , and pianist Kjetil some days ago. It went very well. It was great fun! The atmosphere here at the castle is so special. Calm, peacefully and loving.  These thick walls have many stories to tell! And that itself is an inspiration as the nature outside.

 The Rose garden is breathtaking right now. Last night I was so lucky to be asked if I wanted to go out and pick myself a big bouquet of roses.  I felt like a princess there I walked through the park with my choice of roses. 

;-) 

For the moment I am working on some new material and as you may understand; this is a perfect place to be....

Take care! And I am looking forward to the next concerts this summer!

;-)

Sissel

St Hans

Hello dear friends!

tonight is the night here in Norway and Denmark where we celebrate St. Hans (named after the Johannes the Baptist). This is two customs put together a far as I know.

 The celebration of the new life , the spring, which had arrived and where the fire was meant to 'clear' the sky , the air from the cold winter ,force the bad, the dangerous and fearsome away. Burn the winter away, and celebrate the summer light. Then there is the celebration of Johannes the Baptist's birthday which is said to be on June 24. Because  we have a tradition here of celebrating seasonal days the night before, (as we do at Christmas in the evening of December 24th. ) the celebration is on the 23th. This is the perfect day to have a wonderful time together in the beautiful Nordic summer night. So the bun fires are to be seen all over the country and along the long coast line tonight.  

Have a great St Hans!

;-)

Sissel

ps. Some have asked me what the music in the background on my page is. It is a special version of the song 'Hallowed Mountains' , from 'Northern Lights' album.

Beginning of summer'08

Hello dear friends!

Got back from two great experiences with the first 2 concerts of this summer. 

We were very lucky with the weather as the weather had changed from a warm lovely summer to a cold and wet summer. We had sunshine on both concerts! 

                                                               :-)

It is always a bit exciting on the first shows with some new songs and how they respond.  I think it all went very well and I am very happy with the results.  It was so fun! 

We arrived at 3 o'clock in the morning in Årdal after a long busdrive from Jessheim right outside Oslo. Wow I was tired! We arrived in daylight, cause the sun was up.  

Waking up the next morning to this beautiful view of the fjord and mountains with spots of snow at the top , was breathtaking. Incredible beautiful! And it was warm and very nice!

The picture is of me by the stage (and back stage). That's also the view the audience had. Å Vestland, vestland! 

I feel so lucky and blessed to travel and work in this beautiful country!

Next stop is Rosendal. Another heartbreaking beauty, and another kind of concert. A piano, guitar and the voice. It will be so intimate and cosy! I can hardly wait! A true tradition as we would  say in Bergen. (When something has been done twice, it is a tradition.)

Take care and enjoy the light and the summer!

;-)

Sissel

 

Bergen

Hello dear friends,

Bergen! My wonderful hometown!
The music Festival of Bergen is such an inspirational experience. Between these beautiful mountains the music life is blooming! Right now it is full summer, which is rare for this time of year.
This weekend I was also in London and saw Morten, Pål and Magne, Aha in Royal Albert Hall. I really enjoyed myself. An evening of great music! - and so fun to see the three of them with their own musical projects and at the end together. I can't wait for their new albums. Three brilliant musicians and artists.
Yesterday I took the funicular up to the top to Fløyen where you get a perfect view over the town of Bergen and the beautiful sunset out in the North Sea. ........ I love this city!
My friend took a picture of me, but the sun was too strong to show the view of the city, but the view over the south side is also beautiful!
Hope you all will have the oppertunity to visit my Bergen one day!
Take care!
;-)

Sissel

Hello dear friends!

Hope all is well!

I have had some great weekends in Norway. Visiting friends and family in my lovely hometown Bergen and at Baroniet in Rosendal. Celebrating our National Day the 17. th of May in Oslo with whom I call my Northern Norwegian Family. When I think of our two wonderful weekends it gives me so much joy and energy starts bobbling inside of me. 

Rosendal is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. Located in the Hardanger-fjord outside Bergen. We were very lucky to take a small aqua airplane that flew us over the beautiful coastline of Bergen , seeing the glacier, the clear blue sky, the fjord and the blooming of the trees, it was ..... breathtaking. 

 This summer it will be the third time I will have a concert in one of the living rooms of the castle. A very intimate room and only seating about 80 people and guitar, piano and me.

 This is a perfect place to go hiking as well. When I went hiking there for the first time and saw the Hattebergvassdraget for the first time , I wondered if Mr Walt Disney had been there for inspiration. Now I saw it in real life and so much more unbelievable beautiful!

The scenic trip back to Bergen by bus and ferries was just perfect! As you can see from the picture!

Maybe I will see you at Baroniet in Rosendal this summer? Then you should go for a walk in the rose garden, the park , listen to the majestic waterfall and the birds singing. So peaceful and have a local specialty  a Milkcake , in the cafe.....  

It's definately worth a visit. 

Check it out on :www.baroniet.no

Have a wonderful spring, early summer!

;-)

Sissel 

Back home again

Dear friends, 

Coming home and reading the last messages from you really warmed my heart. Music can heal, be uplifting and give comfort and hope and I think that is something we all can relate to. 'Like an angel passing through my room'  is a song that many people have written to me about and told me how the song has spoken to them. The song also spoke to me the first time I heard it and I knew that I had to sing it. 

The tour of the US is over for now. We have had such a wonderful time. Great venues and audiences. When I will be back I don't know yet. But I would like to thank each one of you who attended my concerts and thanks for all the support! For those of you who couldn't: hope to see you next time!

  Here at home it is green and the birds are singing and nesting. Right now my little cat is laying next to me, relaxing ...... Today I will relax too....

Take care!

Enjoy the spring!

;-)

Sissel