What a year 2009!

Dear friends,

Thanks for your notes and messages on my blog!

My writing on this blog has been very poor this year. There has been so much going on. So much good going on!

The new project with Odd Nordstoga, ''Strålande Jul'' took some time and travel, as did the concerts. When I wrote my last blog from the studio sessions, it was still a well kept secret that Odd and I were working together. He is a very well known and beloved artist in Norway. So I could not mention him then...

This Christmas album has been a huge success, and for the first time I have been touring away from home for more than 14 days. But then again my family could visit me on tour, and that was nice. Very nice!

Our Christmas tour in Norway and Sweden was a real treat! Great people to work with and I have got new friends that I will love to work with again and meet off stage! Great music and audience every evening!

In Sweden, 3 Swedish acts joined us (the band, Trondheim Soloists, Odd and myself):

The Real Group, a wonderful and very talented vocal group, Orsa Spelmenn, folk band that plays and make everyone smile, and Christer Henriksson, a wonderful actor with a great presence and he had the best sermon about the Gospel I have heard in a long time!

Odd is such a gifted and talented musician and composer. And a wonderful person! From the first time I heard him I just new that our voices would work well together and I love his musical universe! We met for the first time in his kitchen lastJanuary. And the project has been like a dance on roses from the start till the end. A meant to be! Now we will continue on our own paths. If our pathways will ever cross again? - I don't know....

The time has come to look at a new year.

I have a plan to start recording a new album when I have the songs that I like! So I expect summer will be my studio time. And I will travel to a place I have never been before!

For the rest of this year I will just enjoy my good friends and get good energy for a great start on a great new year! This year has been filled with so much to thank for!

I start singing concerts in the first week of 2010. Then I will travel to the Northern Part of Norway, above the polar circle, and I am looking forward so much to these concerts and to spending some time in this beautiful part of Norway!

To everyone of you:

Have a wonderful and sparkling New Year!

God bless,

;-)

Sissel

studio session

Dear friends,                  

My stay in Bergen was very nice! Wonderful, lovely, funny and many great moments to remember! Bryn was as always great to work with and what an amazing entertainer and singer! And a thrill to work in my own hometown with the great Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra!

Right now I'm working in studio on my new project. We have a string session tonight. Lovely! I

 feel so uplifted by these beautiful arrangements and playing by all the musicians that

 contribute and make this music live. And of course we have a lot of fun..... Daniel is playing the  Hardanger fiddle with the Trondheim Soloists and Per my pianist and I studying the music.

I can't wait for you all to hear this! 

Take care and have fun!             

;-) 

Sissel

   

Bergen Music Festival

Hello dear friends, 

just want to share with you the view from my room.......   

Today we , Bryn , the conductor Gareth and myself will have a short piano rehearsal before the big day tomorrow. Nice to have a relaxing day today. 

The sun is shining, and the forecast for tomorrow is still nice.  The park will be such a wonderful venue for this classical/cross over concert! For me it is such a treat to sing with Bryn and work with so wonderful and gifted people! And I am so much looking forward to hear the young Finnish pianist Joho Pojonen, playing Grieg's Piano Concerto. 

This is just : Wonderful! Fantastic! 

I must have the best job in the world! 

......Well, for me anyway..

Take care!

;-)

Sissel 

Hello dear friends, 

Hope you are all well! Thanks for all messages! 

I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to write to you again. Been very busy! 

Now I am her in my own beloved hometown, Bergen! 

The most amazing sunny weather! This town is so beautiful!

Yesterday we had our first concert as the trio of Trygve on the piano, Geir on guitars and myself on vocal. Wow! That was so fun and a really enjoyable evening for us! The picture is from the rehearsal. 

What a special place to sing and perform. 

I am so much looking forward to this evenings concert. Leaving in half an hour. 

Yesterday before the concert Trygve and I got a special treat: Lizzie , who lives in Edvard Griegs home, took us up at the roof of the house. What a view! It is said that Grieg had an herb and vegetable garden up there..... Hm..

I will write some more later... now I have to rush and make myself ready for take off!

Take care!

;-)

Sissel

Hello again friends!

Hope your life is good!

I've been in Trondheim and had a great session with my pianist Trygve for the 2 Troldhaugen concerts in my hometown Bergen, at the end of May. Together with my guitarist Geir, we will be playing concerts in Edvard Grieg's home, more precisely, in his living room! A very intimate and acoustic setting with only the three of us and about 80 people in the audience.

I'm sending you a picture from our working session. We really are looking forward to these concerts and hope to see you!

Take care!

;-)

Sissel

Correction for Mary !!

Hi Mary,

I read your message, and was happy to hear from you. But! I became a bit alarmed when you wrote that you are planning to buy tickets for a show that is not planned! I AM NOT SINGING IN TIVOLI ON THE 30TH OF OCTOBER!

;-)

Sissel

Hello dear friends! 

Thank you for all your nice words and messages!

Hope you all are fine and at good health! 

How time just fly!

I have been busy with starting up some new projects. Very exciting! Planning upcoming concerts and tours for spring , summer and winter and a new album project.  In between,  I have been so lucky to get the chance to enjoy the beauty of our wonderful nature in Norway. Well, I guess no surprise that I love to be out in the snow and go skiing! 

Right now there is so much snow and winter in Norway. In Oslo you have only 10-15 min from downtown to the most fantastic skiing area! You can go for miles! 

Sending you a picture from my latest trip up in the mountains of Hardangervidden a few weeks ago.... 

 

Take care and enjoy life! 

;-)

Sissel