Aiming to create a unique audience experience

On September 26, the second edition of the A Nordic Art Symphony Project will take place—a collaboration between Kilden Kunstsilo in which classical music and digital visual art are presented as a unified artistic expression.

“I wanted to create a program that draws some parallels to Nordic modernism without stifling the freedom of the curation,” says Bang, who is responsible for the musical program of the concert, titled The Future Now.

He is joined in the curation by Torill Haugen, Head of Digital Communication and Development at Kunstilo, who is incorporating two digital works by the artist Reidar Aulie into the concert.

Starting point 

For Bang, the musical starting point for the concert has been the Austrian composer Anton Webern, who has been particularly influential in his own career as a performer.

“In many ways, Webern has been the main inspiration for much of my own musical work over the past 20 years. And for me, it’s been about putting together a comprehensive program that explores different directions, starting from that foundation,” he explains, hoping to offer a unique experience for the audience at Konsertsalen Kilden Konsertsalen September Kilden :

“We hope that the music will enhance the visual art and vice versa. If we succeed, I think the audience is in for a rather unique experience,” says Bang, who is pleased that the concert already seems to be piquing the audience’s curiosity.

Strong ticket sales

“Ticket sales are looking very good. Both we, who have curated the program, and the orchestra’s musicians are looking forward to September 26,” he says. He himself will be performing on stage as part of a trio alongside two of the country’s leading improvisational musicians, Eivind Aarset and Mats Eilertsen.

Bang is currently on leave from his position as professor of electronic music at the University of Agder so that he can devote himself full-time to performing music and organizing festivals. He is known to many as one of the key figures behind Punkt Festival, which celebrates its 20th anniversary next year. This year, he is also the artistic director of the newly established Fragment Festival, where The Future Now is part of the program.

Photo: Lars Gunnar Liestøl