Follow the Route http://www.memoria-norway.com en Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:23:39 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=961 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=961


We are back in Berlin. We had a great time at Kirkenes and brought home some wonderful memories. This team photo Stefan Daub took in front of one of the giant buckets from a mining excavator which now serves as a bus stop at Bjørnevatn. (top, left to right) Bob Heuvelmans, Bram Stadhouders, Viktor Orri Árnason, Louis Bona, Karl Jóhann Bjarnason, Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason, Eduard Demidov, Springer, Lilly Jørstad - (bottom) Anatolii Skuratov, Parker, Vladimir Varnava, Nikolay Alexeyev, Semen Ruban. Unfortunately missing in this photo: Adrienne Hart and Robert Raths who were organizing the rest of the dancers costumes. Thank you all for a wonderful time!]]> Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:01:57 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=960 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=960


We are on our way back to Berlin. We are passing a Dr. Oetker factory. You will find Dr. Oetker pizzas in every supermarket's deep freeze department in Scandinavia. For some people Dr. stands for healthy.]]> Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:28:26 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=959 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=959


Well, at least for one of us. Springer was born here in Oldenburg/Holstein. And a few days ago, very close to here, his cousin Peer Ville, a new Springer, was born. Congratulations and a Happy Birthday!]]> Sun, 13 Feb 2011 23:20:37 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=958 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=958


Our perfect travel speed lies slightly below the ones of Scandinavian cold storage trucks.]]> Sun, 13 Feb 2011 17:03:06 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=956 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=956


Saturday night somewhere in Sweden. No one here.]]> Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:55:08 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=955 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=955


Did we tell the story from our very first Memoria Norway trip in 2008, when the bathroom window of the camping car suddenly decided to fly down into one of these fjords? Sad story, that thing might still be out there somewhere. We didn't have a logbook back then.]]> Sat, 12 Feb 2011 14:25:33 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=954 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=954


There is something about Swedish snow that gets the car stuck at some point during the trips. Always a challenge moving nearly 7 tons of mobile home.]]> Sat, 12 Feb 2011 14:19:58 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=953 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=953


The Hornön Highcoast Bridge, a must have entry in our logbook. A beauty, isn't she?]]> Sat, 12 Feb 2011 13:32:42 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=952 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=952


And today's first prize in cloud design goes to Rovaniemi.]]> Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:58:28 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=951 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=951


Yeah, that's Santa Claus Village again. Morning coffee with Christmas tunes, passing helicopters and Starfighters landing nearby. Childhood dreams come true.]]> Fri, 11 Feb 2011 10:29:06 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=950 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=950


t tt t t that all you got Finland? We've got seat heating!]]> Thu, 10 Feb 2011 23:06:26 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=949 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=949


Here we just mixed up a reeindeer party at a parking space next to the road. If you look closely you see some furry butts rushing towards the trolls that are lurking in the dark woods. You guys have fun.]]> Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:28:22 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=948 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=948


Hard to leave, as always. Off towards Berlin, after the Finnmark dance opera we're gonna rewrite and extend it to the Finnmark Symphony.]]> Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:44:22 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=947 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=947


Most people of our crew already left during the last days. Now it's time for us to say our see-you-soons at Pikene på Broen. We only catched Inger, Mona and Bente, but thank you all so much again, for letting us realise this project, for taking good care of us all and for a wonderful time in Kirkenes! See you soon!]]> Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:38:16 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=946 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=946


We're meeting Kjetl who we know since last year's Barents Spektakel. He is a journalist working for the local newspaper Finnmarken. As always we're deep into discussions about everything. Today he told us the story how he had his first beer in Berlin. He visited Berlin with his parents and somehow got separated from them. He walked into a bar and told them that he is from Norway and lost his parents. They told him to calm down, take a seat and have a beer. He was 12. But you didn't hear that from us.]]> Wed, 09 Feb 2011 01:57:51 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=945 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=945


We're meeting Björn, who is a journalist working for one of the local newspapers, the Sør-Varanger Avis.]]> Wed, 09 Feb 2011 01:21:51 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=944 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=944


We're meeting Michael, a photographer from Australia who came to Kirkenes last year.]]> Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:36:13 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=943 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=943


This evening on the menu: Fish soup a la Rune Rafaelsen. Delicious. And a very nice occasion to sit together with friends and talk about the festival.]]> Tue, 08 Feb 2011 19:04:24 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=942 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=942


There is a one page article today about the opera in one of the local newspapers, the Sør-Varanger Avis. The title says: "Inspired by the Finnmark". Yes it is!]]> Tue, 08 Feb 2011 18:32:51 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=941 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=941


Luba, you are working too much, your eyes will get squarish.]]> Mon, 07 Feb 2011 21:59:38 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=940 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=940


We're visiting Maria, who we know from our very first visit to Kirkenes and Pikene på Broen. She will leave for Russia tomorrow, so good-bye, take care and hopefully see you really soon!]]> Mon, 07 Feb 2011 21:41:36 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=939 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=939


We love to take photos of the Kirkenes welcome sign while driving by. We already have some in our logbooks. It's even nicer than the Hollywood sign.]]> Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:08:52 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=938 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=938


We're at the Kirkenes videregående skole, the school at Hesseng, just outside of Kirkenes. We're joined by two classes with students about 18 years old, so it's their last year at this school. We're presenting our project and videos and music of the dance opera and we are talking about the future of Finnmark.]]> Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:58:18 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=937 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=937


The Kulturelle Skolesekken is a nation-wide initiative funded by the Norwegian government to bring art and culture to schools. Artists and musicians are invited to present and perform for classes during project days. Last year we already presented our live collage at schools across the Finnmark.]]> Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:42:38 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=936 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=936


Poof it goes.]]> Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:06:10 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=935 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=935


What happens if you release a cup of boiling water into the air at -32 degrees C ?]]> Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:05:19 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=934 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=934


The first time during the festival, where we all have actually the time to enjoy the festival programme. We're at the Fjellhallen to celebrate and see some concerts. Bjarni and Louis seem to enjoy the evening. Bjarni is wearing that fancy black dress, we kindly refused him to wear during the opera. And this time he is also wearing shoes.]]> Sat, 05 Feb 2011 22:55:55 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=933 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=933


Together with Adrienne we're doing the first interview after the show, with Estonian Television.]]> Sat, 05 Feb 2011 19:58:49 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=932 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=932


The Transborder Café at Ofelas in Kirkenes is always part of the Barents Spektakel, as a platform for concerts, performances and talks. We're on stage with choreographer Adrienne Hart to talk about the project and the opera and to say thanks to Pikene på Broen for giving us the opportunity to put this dance opera to life.]]> Sat, 05 Feb 2011 19:42:13 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=931 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=931


More hugs and a lot of happy faces.]]> Sat, 05 Feb 2011 18:12:31 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=930 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=930


A driver is waiting outside to take us to Kirkenes where we are going to say a few words about the project at the Transborder Café. But first things first. Hugs are important. Thank you all for being part of this!]]> Sat, 05 Feb 2011 18:11:39 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=929 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=929


A few minutes after the show with Inger, Mona and Bente. Being told that a lot of people were overwhelmed by emotions and some had tears in their eyes, we are feeling really happy and relieved that the last months of work were worth it.]]> Sat, 05 Feb 2011 18:10:08 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=928 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=928


At this point we would like to say special thanks to our friend and musician Wolfram Spyra from Berlin who helped us a great deal during the last weeks, arranging and mastering our music for this opera. We are currently in act 4.]]> Sat, 05 Feb 2011 17:47:10 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=927 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=927


Part 2 of act 3. After Lilly was performing her libretto, in which she sang Finnmark temperature data from 2010, she is now performing the "Requiem" together with the dancers. Thanks to Viktor, who beautifully re-arranged this part for the strings during the last days]]> Sat, 05 Feb 2011 17:45:24 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=926 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=926


We're in the middle of act 2. People are able to choose at which side of the 4 sided stage they would like to be and of course they could walk around it. We produced different video projections for each side of the stage. People are calling this gym the new Bjørnevatn opera house, we like that.]]> Sat, 05 Feb 2011 17:29:02 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=925 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=925


During the show we didn't have time to take mobile phone pics so the rest of this days logbook will feature the photos by Stefan Daub, thank you Stefan! The show is about to begin. Each one of us has their own method of warm up exercises. Ours might not have been as gracile as the ones of the dancers. This is Vladimir Varnava, who by the way, just was awarded the price for best male Russian dancer.]]> Sat, 05 Feb 2011 17:10:19 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=924 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=924


And here comes another one.]]> Sat, 05 Feb 2011 15:06:31 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=923 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=923


Our morning rehearsals.]]> Sat, 05 Feb 2011 11:49:16 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=922 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=922


Good Morning Finnmark]]> Sat, 05 Feb 2011 09:12:17 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=921 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=921


Now these Icelandic guys are really taking it to the next level.]]> Fri, 04 Feb 2011 19:11:49 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=920 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=920


For the first time on stage together, dancers and musicians plus Lilly.]]> Fri, 04 Feb 2011 18:28:03 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=919 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=919


Ta daa. There she is. Adrienne Hart from London, choreographing the dancers around the musicians.]]> Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:45:29 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=918 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=918


Some last instructions for the dancers.]]> Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:28:23 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=917 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=917


Enough said.]]> Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:14:59 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=916 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=916


First day on stage rehearsal in the process.]]> Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:42:07 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=915 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=915


And finally we're complete. Joining us for the stage rehearsals from now on will be the dancers from the State Musical Theatre of Karelia / Russia: (left to right) Semen, Eduard, Vladimir and Anatolii, who arrived yesterday with Nicolai from their theatre and with choreographer Adrienne Hart. You're right, that's Lilly in the photo, Adrienne is still hard to catch.]]> Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:40:12 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=914 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=914


Even more visitors. Hello little ones, and thanks for lending us your gym hall.]]> Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:20:58 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=913 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=913


On location we are being observed with curious eyes.]]> Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:03:57 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=912 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=912


The obvious disadvantage of being the photographer of our lucky bunch is that Stefan will hardly be on any photo. But we know that you're mother is following the logbook, so greetings Mrs. Daub, he's doing really great, as always!]]> Fri, 04 Feb 2011 12:38:14 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=911 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=911


We're being picked up to drive over to Bjørnevatn for the first rehearsals on the real stage. Yes.]]> Fri, 04 Feb 2011 12:37:35 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=910 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=910


We would like to keep the tension up for a while longer, so there won't be any photos of the stage tonight. You'll get the guys who build everything up instead: (left to right) Svein, Holger, Svein, Oddgeir and Rolf. Thank you guys, good night.]]> Fri, 04 Feb 2011 04:34:14 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=909 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=909


Some lights in Bjørnevatn will be staying on longer than usual tonight.]]> Fri, 04 Feb 2011 02:02:19 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=908 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=908


This should do the trick ... well, no it doesn't. But there are no problems, only solutions. That's the attidude!]]> Fri, 04 Feb 2011 02:00:06 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=907 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=907


We both went out to the location where the opera will be premiered this Saturday. The stage needs a lot of space, therefore it is being build up at the quite huge gym of the school at Bjørnevatn, a village a few minutes away from Kirkenes. There's a kid's snowman drawing at the wall. Something we noticed when driving through the Finnmark is that we never saw any snowmen around. We figured that it is due to the fact that it is nearly imossible to build one when the snow is dry and not sticky, which is the case most of time.]]> Fri, 04 Feb 2011 01:44:29 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=906 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=906


Bob and his desserts. No wait, desserts and their Bob, they outnumber him like 4 to 1. But one must admit that they really are that yummy.]]> Thu, 03 Feb 2011 20:50:32 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=904 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=904


There are probably 47 different ways to produce sounds with a volin and these guys know them all. Nearly half of them imply a high chance of hurting yourself in the process.]]> Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:51:36 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=903 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=903


Her: You should try that in large ... Him: It is large ... Her: Oh ... Him: They just made me too big ...]]> Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:26:57 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=902 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=902


We already did some really nice recording sessions with our opera singer Lilly at the Keusgen Sound Studio at Haldern / Germany last November.]]> Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:11:40 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=901 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=901


The tender comfort of festival café couches.]]> Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:41:51 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=900 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=900


Robert Raths, founder of the Erased Tapes record label traveled to Kirkenes as a promoter for our opera. If you don't recognize him immediately, it's probably because he's currently taking part in the how-do-I-look-with-Karl Jóhann's-glasses-contest, which suddenly became famous after lunch. The amzing results will probably be all over facebook by now.]]> Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:23:04 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=899 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=899


It's always nice to learn about other countries traditional cuisines, especially when comes to burying fish and animal parts deep into the ground to rot, only to dig them out a few months later and have a family feast. It's nice to hear these stories after dinner, though. By the way, Karl Jóhann spilled his coffee over his shirt.]]> Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:14:41 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=898 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=898


Nothing can possibly compare with that.]]> Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:35:49 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=897 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=897


Just arrived at Kirkenes: one of the two girls in our group, Lilly Jørstad, Russian opera singer, living in Tromsø.]]> Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:29:09 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=896 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=896


After a very enjoyable royal dinner we're getting ready to leave for the city centre, where more artworks and exhibitions will be opened in the presence of her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway and several ministers and statesmen, both from Russia and Norway. This evening, Luba is wearing her beautiful white Russian fur coat, her famous pilot hat, including the goggles of course, and a hammer. Don't ask.]]> Wed, 02 Feb 2011 23:40:43 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=894 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=894


We've been invited to the festival dinner with her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway, who is visiting Kirkenes to open the Barents Spektakel. There are some protocols to be followed, we're waiting for her arrival. We are feeling very honored.]]> Wed, 02 Feb 2011 21:09:36 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=893 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=893


Close to the end of a long rehearsal day. Unfortunately we're so about to miss the festival opening show at the town square.]]> Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:16:36 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=892 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=892


Viktor, you're doing it wrong. No, actually he's not.]]> Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:09:03 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=891 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=891


Happily united after all for our afternoon rehearsals.]]> Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:46:26 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=889 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=889


When you grew up in Iceland, of course you can leave some buttons of your shirt unplugged at -15°C.]]> Wed, 02 Feb 2011 14:14:03 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=888 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=888


Round 2: Downhill. Guys, that's the wrong way ... you will be late for lunch ...]]> Wed, 02 Feb 2011 14:05:54 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=886 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=886


How to get rid of all that spare energy to be able to play the slow parts even better. Round 1: Tie.]]> Wed, 02 Feb 2011 14:02:26 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=884 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=884


And this it how it feels to get a concert harp delivered. Yes Bob, that's for you. Now get that over to the rehearsal room already.]]> Wed, 02 Feb 2011 13:54:16 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=883 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=883


This it how it looks when you get a concert harp delivered.]]> Wed, 02 Feb 2011 13:52:35 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=882 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=882


Until now, most of the instrument parts were played by us on midi equipment with sample libraries. Now it' so so wonderful to hear the strings of the piece replaced by real instruments.]]> Wed, 02 Feb 2011 11:25:03 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=881 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=881


What looks like a game to break the ice or get to know each other actually is the attempt to position everyone on the imaginary stage, regarding their instruments, the light, the sound and a bunch of other things that need to be taken care of. Of course everything was again changed afterwards.]]> Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:56:44 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=880 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=880


We're doing the first rehearsal, which rather is a meeting with all the musicians to listen to the complete score together, watch the videos for the four screens, discuss and to meet with the light and sound technicians. The coming days will be hard work but also a lot of fun.]]> Tue, 01 Feb 2011 17:37:18 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=879 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=879


Parker and Bob are studying the score which turned out not to be so easy to play on a harp. But we're optimistic. The harp itself should have arrived today but due to bad weather conditions on the way from Tromsø, the arrival is delayed until tomorrow morning. But we're optimistic.]]> Tue, 01 Feb 2011 16:37:28 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=878 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=878


Soon crossing zebras will no longer be a men with hats domain. This has nothing to do with anything and we're on our way downtown for lunch.]]> Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:01:19 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=876 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=876


Now this looks like our string quartet just arrived: (from left to right) Louis Bona (Viola), Viktor Orri Árnason (Violin), Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason (Violin), Karl Jóhann Bjarnason (Cello). We know Viktor for some time now, he is the violin of Icelandic band Hjaltalín. Welcome guys!]]> Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:07:00 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=875 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=875


The vehicle of choice in snowy times. We're on our way up to the hotel to pick up our musicians. But we're walking.]]> Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:49:29 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=874 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=874


After saying hello to Bob and a little chat we're on our way home to our camping car. Outside it's quite mild with -9 degrees C and it's snowing twinkling little crystals. Good night.]]> Tue, 01 Feb 2011 01:51:34 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=873 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=873


Just arrived: Bob Heuvelmans, our harp player from Maastricht / Holland. He took the nice city hopping flight with 5 stops along the North Norwegian coast line, so he already saw a lot of Finnmark nightlife.]]> Tue, 01 Feb 2011 01:10:08 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=872 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=872


It pretty much looks like we have to do some modifications to the original stage design. Improvisation is always challenging.]]> Mon, 31 Jan 2011 23:17:23 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=871 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=871


First meeting with the technical staff. Together with Luba we're discussing with Holger, Svein and once again Svein the technical aspects of our show, the light, the sound and the stage itself.]]> Mon, 31 Jan 2011 22:36:04 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=870 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=870


We're starting to prepare the room, where we will be doing the workshop and rehearsals with the musicians during the next days, until we can move to the actual festival location.]]> Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:57:46 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=869 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=869


Meet Bente, working as project manager for the festival, also for our dance opera.]]> Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:38:53 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=868 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=868


Meet Thale, responsible for press and information for the festival. If you are wondering, Thale is also the name of a new Norwegian movie about a forest ghost at a lake, disguised as a beautiful woman, luring men into their doom. But this Thale here is actually really really nice!]]> Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:28:32 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=867 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=867


Meet Inger (front), one of the founders of Pikene på Broen and Gjertrud, working here as a project manager.]]> Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:18:23 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=866 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=866


Meet Mona, the administrative director of Pikene på Broen. She is dealing with all the financial business and she books your flights. All you then have to do is catch it ;)]]> Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:07:56 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=865 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=865


Also arriving by plane yesterday evening was photographer Stefan Daub. He will do a documentation about the opera in all the stages from rehearsals to the premiere. Note his special photo gloves with detachable tops for the triggerfinger. Pretty nifty.]]> Mon, 31 Jan 2011 14:56:27 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=864 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=864


Meet Anastasia and Igor from the festival team. We know them both for quite some time now and it's great to meet again. It might not be your first guess, but Anastasia actually is a fire artist and she doing great with the flames.]]> Sun, 30 Jan 2011 23:06:53 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=863 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=863


In the evening, a whole bunch of other artists of the festival arrived by plane. We are having a welcome drink and dinner at the quite new Thon Hotel at the harbor. When we visited Kirkenes for the first time, they were just building the hotels foundation in the water. Guess we have some photos in our older logbooks.]]> Sun, 30 Jan 2011 21:27:59 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=862 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=862


Online shops certaily have a much greater significance when you live in the far north. Parker and Bente are in the process of ordering a midi keyboard from the Norwegian Apple Store. We're curious if they can maintain their optimistic prediction of the delivery period up here.]]> Sun, 30 Jan 2011 17:19:15 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=861 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=861


London based choreographer and dancer Adrienne Hart is choreographing the four Russian dancers of the opera. She is rehearsing in Russia with Semen Ruban, Vladimir Varnava, Eduard Demidov and Anatolii Skuratov of the State Musical Theatre of Karelia. She is recording the sessions so we can see what is going on. Warm greetings to Russia, great to have you guys and Adrienne! See you very soon in Kirkenes.]]> Sun, 30 Jan 2011 16:06:21 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=860 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=860


Don't underestimate the importance of Antibac. We're doing adminstrative work back at the Pikene office. We are told that a lot of people fell sick with stomach diseases during the last weeks . So better be prepared and grab a family value bottle of your favorite disinfection fluid. Fingers crossed (after disinfection of course).]]> Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:14:52 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=859 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=859


And what better way to end a Saturday evening than to go to Ofelas and have a beer. Where barkeepers recognize you from one year ago and businessmen are impersonating Lady Gaga. Where anything can happen. Good night.]]> Sun, 30 Jan 2011 01:12:29 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=858 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=858


We went to meet our friend Geir from Stabbursdalen who coincidently is in town for a sports conference. He actually was the first person we got to know in Norway, back on our very first trip to Finnmark some years ago. He runs the famous Stabbursdalen Camping, one of our most beloved spots in the country.]]> Sun, 30 Jan 2011 00:29:08 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=857 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=857


For the dinner at Surf&Turf we were joined by Luba, artistic director of Pikene på Broen, who was googling and reporting us about Russian permafrost regions over a hot Borscht, the soup of the day.]]> Sat, 29 Jan 2011 20:56:54 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=856 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=856


This evening, Thale, who is doing the press relations for this years Barents Spektakel, invited us over to the apartment where she is staying with her husband Marius and their daughter Cyan. So we sat together for a nice chat with them and Inger, Bente and Gjertrud from the festival and Bram.]]> Sat, 29 Jan 2011 19:27:58 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=855 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=855


Walking by the ice hockey stadium. The Barents Sports Days are also part of the Barents Spektakel.]]> Sat, 29 Jan 2011 18:35:16 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=854 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=854


Meeting and greeting at the office of Pikene på Broen, the festival organizers. It's great to be back here! Bram Stadhouders, a Dutch guitarist is the first of our live musicians to arrive at Kirkenes. He flew over from Geilo, where he was playing at the Ice Festival.]]> Sat, 29 Jan 2011 18:02:28 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=853 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=853


We're at Kirkenes to premiere and present our new work from the Memoria Norway cycle: "There Are Places In Our Heads One Can Travel To", a contemporary dance opera, at the annual festival, the Barents Spektakel. We composed the music and video projections and will work with choreographed dancers, an opera singer, dancers and live musicians. Yeah!]]> Sat, 29 Jan 2011 16:42:22 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=852 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=852


Making proper Polarböod on a camping toaster is not as easy as it may appear.]]> Sat, 29 Jan 2011 13:59:45 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=851 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=851


Polarbröd is the new toast!]]> Sat, 29 Jan 2011 13:56:07 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=849 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=849


It is breathtaking to drive through white corridors during these early and long dawning "blue hours".]]> Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:11:47 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=848 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=848


This part of the road suddenly gets really wide like a plane is supposed to be able to land here. And all of a sudden a Starfighter shows up in the skies and jets really close above our heads. It all went quite fast, but we were able to grab the phone and shoot. In the corner of the photo you see the roof of our car, so you can imagine how low this thing was flying. No stars were harmed.]]> Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:30:52 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=847 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=847


In 1950, Mrs. Elenor Roosevelt, the widow of the former US president, famous for humanitarian work, was going to visit Rovaniemi to see Lapland and the post-war reconstruction of the city. The mayor decided to build a cabin for the welcoming ceremony at the Arctic Circle. This was the starting point for what later should become the Arctic Circle Center and Santa Park which annualy attracts thousands of tourists to this place to enjoy Christmas mood and fun and to send postcards to their loved ones, nearly the whole year through. An obligatory stop for us. For the fun of it. Merry Christmas Mr. Springer. Merry Christmas Mr. Parker.]]> Fri, 28 Jan 2011 12:33:36 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=846 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=846


As always at this spot, Sweden meets Finland and you lose an hour. Let's hear what Finnish radio has to offer, our first guess: Metallica. Been there, done that.]]> Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:59:44 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=845 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=845


When on tour we always bring new music to listen to and test their landscape compatibilities. But we also try the radio from time to time. On Swedish radio they talk a lot. REALLY A LOT. Mostly with people on the phone. When it comes to music, it's a journey through the ages and genres, with a noticable emphasis on the 80ies. And you will always hear Abba, Roxette and for some reason Alphaville, although there is so much great contemporary music from Sweden.]]> Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:04:50 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=844 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=844


We're still below the Arctic Circle. Inbetween the grey, the sun showed up above the horizon for about two hours and left an ice cream sky behind.]]> Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:05:42 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=843 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=843


There must have been a lot of snow fall during the last days.]]> Thu, 27 Jan 2011 14:24:33 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=842 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=842


Our navigation system (which we fondly named Lucy some trips ago) bugged us for hours concerning a snow storm coming our way. Lucy also told us to "turn left in 150 m", immediately followed by "turn right now" immeditely followed by "turn around the car". We learned when to ignore her. But she was wrong about the storm. Good night.]]> Thu, 27 Jan 2011 01:58:45 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=841 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=841


Supplies supplies. And vegan cheese!]]> Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:21:34 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=838 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=838


If you have followed or read our previous logbooks, you might have noticed, that we usually arrive at Sundsvall by night. This time everything is different. Thanks to the time we lost during our stop at the garage and while the roads were blocked, we are seeing places that we never saw by daylight before, but on the other hand, we are also not staying at our well proven (and beloved) places during the night.]]> Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:11:57 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=837 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=837


As you might have guessed by now, this is not one of our exploration tours. We are heading towards Kirkenes to present our new work, about which we will write more about during the next days. Again we spent the night parking at a cosy resting place in Sweden and are now back on the road. We hope to reach Haparanda by night.]]> Wed, 26 Jan 2011 13:31:45 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=835 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=835


Eyerything is fixed and done in Stockholm. Just a year ago there were countless ongoing constructions. Now, only one year later, almost all that roads, bridges and buildings are completed. Respect!]]> Tue, 25 Jan 2011 23:53:49 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=834 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=834


Shortly after leaving Jönköping, our navigation system came up with the first warnings about freezing snow. Not long and both sides of the roads were blocked. We saw numerous accidents over the next few kilometers, a lot of police and ambulance. It's always the sudden temperatures of just below zero that can catch you cold.]]> Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:14:13 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=833 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=833


This is the place where tires go when they die. But our tires are now enhanced with the things they call piggdekk here. We're expecting the weather and the roads to become worse, but now we're a little bit better prepared.]]> Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:17:23 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=832 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=832


We finally got a new sim card and the taxi drove us back to the garage. A funny sidenote: the mother of one of the taxi drivers comes from Pasvik. This is close to Kirkenes, where we had a wonderful snow scooting-ice fishing(we tried)-camp fire experience last year with Mona + family & friends. Greetings!]]> Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:10:20 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=831 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=831


We already walked the pedestrian streets up and down twice and they don't have a mobile phone shop around here, so we will take a taxi to a shopping mall outside the city center. No kidding.]]> Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:46:42 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=830 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=830


For this store, it seems that the winter sale went pretty well.]]> Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:35:07 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=829 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=829


We stopped at a garage where we had an appoinment to get the tires of our motor caravan upgraded with spikes. If you pronounce this city's name correctly, the last part sounds a bit like shopping. And we're about to shop ourselves a new Swedish simcard for the mobile.]]> Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:32:57 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=828 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=828


This resting place in Sweden we picked for a little rest last night. Currently the playground is being inspected. And we will be on our way further north.]]> Tue, 25 Jan 2011 12:49:20 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=827 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=827


10 minutes until we will leave Germany.]]> Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:59:53 +0100 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=826 http://www.memoria-norway.com/33-0-Logbook-Reise-5.html?detail=826


... we go.]]> Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:27:06 +0100