Vårkonsert med Kilden Vokalensemble

Norwegian card-playing traditions from the 19th century

In the 19th century, Norway began to develop its own culture of art music. During a period marked by national consciousness, folk tunes, and Romantic trends, a number of choral works emerged that combined Norwegian musical ideals with European influences.

This evening, Kilden presents selected works from the period: lyrical a cappella pieces, romantic soundscapes, and sacred miniatures composed with both warmth and artistry.
Here, nature poetry, folk-inspired melodies, and the era’s ideals of beauty, clarity, and national style come together. The result is a musical portrait of spring—rich, poetic, and rarely heard in today’s concert halls.

Motets by Johann Sebastian Bach

When Bach’s motets resound, a different world opens up: precision, power, and spiritual intensity. The six great motets are among his most beloved choral works, composed for sophisticated polyphony and demanding expression.

Through shifting textures, contrasting choral sections, and dancing melodies, Bach creates music in which every motif contributes to the overall meaning. It is art and faith, intellect and emotion—inseparably woven together.
For Kilden , Bach’s motets represent both vocal technique and great musical expressiveness. They offer moments of brilliance, intense intimacy, and a timeless clarity that never loses its power.

About the Kilden Ensemble

Kilden (KVE) is Southern Norway’s only professional vocal ensemble and has played a central role in the region’s music scene for many years. The ensemble has close ties to Kilden and the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, and regularly participates in opera, oratorio, and symphonic productions.

In addition, KVE produces its own a cappella concerts that span a wide range of genres and are of high artistic quality. Under the direction of Marit Tøndel Bodsberg, the ensemble has developed a distinct artistic profile and strengthened its artistic expression.

KVE presents productions that challenge and inspire—both in terms of repertoire and concert format. The ensemble’s goal is to perform vocal music at a high level, with a distinctive style that reflects both tradition and the contemporary era.
KVE is supported by the Norwegian Directorate for Culture.

Conductor Marit Tøndel Bodsberg

Conductor and artistic director of Kilden . She studied at the Norwegian Academy of Music and the University of Agder. She also serves as conductor for the Norwegian Student Choir and the Women’s Student Choir at the University of Oslo, and teaches conducting at the Norwegian Academy of Music and in the Talent Development Program (TUP) at the University of Agder.