Light in the Dark Period: Ensemble Allegria and Ditte Marie Bræin

In the darkest time of the year, it is especially important to find points of light. On the very Lucia Day, December 13th, we will fill the Marmorsalen at Sentralen with music where the contrasts between dark and light are strong, and together with soprano soloist Ditte Marie Bræin, we invite you to an atmospheric and grand experience. The evening's program is inspired by both the story of Saint Lucia, the martyr who became a saint whose name means precisely “light”, and by the date December 13th, which in the Julian calendar was the year's longest night. This date was, in old Nordic tradition, associated with the Norse spirit Lussi, and according to folklore, evil forces were particularly active on this night. At the same time, we are on our way into a Christmas season that celebrates light, community, and goodness, and we wish to embrace all of this in tonight's program. The evening's main work is one of music history's greatest masterpieces: Schubert's string quartet No. 14, nicknamed “Death and the Maiden”. The title rightly indicates great drama, and the music can evoke associations with the young Lucia's struggle for life, and Lussi with her entourage of underground creatures riding through the night. But at the same time, we hear Schubert's distinctive way of letting the light shine through and turning even the darkest tones into the most beautiful melodies. In today’s world, we still see these contrasts, and now in the darkest time of the year, it is particularly important to gather and remind each other that the light still exists. Soprano Ditte Marie Bræin is among the country’s most sought-after soloists, and as a long-time member of the Norwegian Soloists' Choir, she is a dear friend of us in Ensemble Allegria. At the concert, we will hear her perform Schubert, Hildegard von Bingen, and folk songs that bring light into the darkness and remind us that Christmas is soon upon us. --- The doors to Marmorsalen open at 18:30. If you need a companion ticket, please contact us at ensemble.allegria@gmail.com