The World`s Most Beautiful Music Festival

Dear Chamber Music Friends!

It pleases me enormously to tell that the Norwegian violinist Arve Tellefsen is one of our artists in the summer of 2005. In several decades he has been our countries leading violinist, an ideal and a huge inspiration for very many young Norwegian musicians, including myself.

Many will know him from numerous performances of the concertos by Beethoven, Brahms, Sibelius and Tchaikovsky. But not all know that he always was a dedicated chamber musician. But he did already long ago brilliant recordings of chamber works, for instance of the Schubert trios with the two Swedish musicians Hans Pålsson, piano and Frans Helmersson, cello.

He made a clear statement of his interest in chamber music when he in 1989, as the first in Norway, established the now well known Oslo Chamber Music Festival (august). This festival was a big success from the first year, and Tellefsen by this inspired other musicians to do the same in other cities, for instance in Stavanger, Risør and Trondheim.

With Tellefsens warm sense of humour he reached a very special contact with his audience. Not only the professionals, but also with the “ordinary man”. He managed to make classical music popular, and he is by far the most selling artist in Norway, regardless of genre.

He is of course popular also in Lofoten. The last time he played there, as soloist with The Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, 1200 came and filled the huge wooden church to the last seat. He will take part in 5 concerts in the summer’s festival, playing both solo and in ensembles. I don’t think you need to be a prophet to see that people will run to the box office also now.

Best regards, Arvid