One’s musical expression really has more to do with instinct, a kind of voice of the heart, than with the outer intellect. All I have heard and studied, however, has strenghtened my belief in the tonal principle.
Mellom drøm og melodrama
Takket være Johan Kvandals sterke, men innadvendte musikk, har Hamsuns ‘Mysterier’ overlevd spranget fra litterær eksistensiell fremmedhet til musikkdrama.
The friend, composer, cultural personality – by Kjell Bækkelund
Johan Kvandal is today central to Norwegian music and cultural life. His unwavering belief in art’s authenticity has been the guiding star in his compositional work. He has triumphed by virtue of abilities, his great talent and a workforce and zeal that impresses.
Kvandals eget notat om Konsert for fiolin og orkester op. 52
Fra et håndskrevet notat til fiolinsolisten Ragin Wenk-Wolff.
Vennen, komponisten, kulturpersonligheten – av Kjell Bækkelund
Johan Kvandal står idag helt sentralt i norsk musikk- og kulturliv. Hans urokkelige tro på kunstens ekthet har vært ledestjernen i hans kompositoriske virke. Han har seiret i kraft av nevnte egenskap, sitt store talent og en arbeidsevne og iver som imponerer.
Opera photos
All photos: Erik Berg, The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet
All Norwegian opera success: Hamsun/ Kvandal
Mysteries op. 75 by Johan Kvandal is an opera in three acts, based on the famous modernist novel with the same name by Knut Hamsun. In many ways, it is the life story of the dreamer, philosopher, vagabond and violinist Johan Nilsen Nagel – “a stranger, a foreigner of existence, God’s fixed idea”. The opera was commissioned by The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet and world premiered on 15th January 1994. The music received excellent reviews.
Main newspaper headlines such as “Hamsun would have been proud” and “Opera success for Mysteries” reflect the work´s position as one of relatively few Norwegian operatic successes of all time. Go to Opera: Reviews to read more.
International caliber
In 1996 the opera was selected by European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to be broadcast to all European countries. Mysteries was chosen ahead of 94 other new, international operas, which is a tremendous recognition of the opera music’s international caliber.
Media clips
“Johan Kvandal’s genial music makes the scenic almost superfluous and Nagel’s spiritual experiences are given a musical expression that measures up to Hamsun” (Klassekampen)”
“Opera success for Mysteries” (Aftenposten)
“Johan Kvandal has enriched Norwegian opera literature with an important work” (VG)
“Kvandal greeted with ovations on the world premiere of his first opera!” (Drammens Tidende)
The mysteries in Mysteries
The opera Mysteries is based on the intense novel written by Norwegian author Knut Hamsun in 1892, and is often referred to as the first Modernist novel in world literature.
The eccentric stranger Johan Nilsen Nagel arrives in a small Norwegian coastal town. Dressed in a stinging yellow suit, he sets out to stir up the local bourgeoisie with his bewildering behavior, disturbing disclosures and feverish visions. It is revealed that Nagel used to live like a vagabond around the world, yet he surprisingly turns out to be a violin virtuoso.
Mysteries is in many ways the life story of the dreamer and philosopher Johan Nilsen Nagel – “a stranger, a foreigner of existence, God’s fixed idea”. Mysteries also surround the other main characters.
The curious inhabitants and colourful figures in the small town all have something to hide: The young beauty Dagny, the anxious and warmhearted Martha and the sly, secretive Minutten. Do they carry something with them that has happened before the story starts? The mysteries in Mysteries are interpreted musically and provide an intriguing gateway to one the most fascinating dramas in modern literature.
Facts on the 1994 production
■ Conductor: Kjell Ingebretsen
■ Libretto: Barhold Halle (German translation available)
■ Director: Barthold Halle
■ Production designer: Hans Petter Harboe
■ Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
■ Publisher: Johan Kvandal
Soloists:
Johan Nielsen Nagel:
Trond Halstein Moe – Baryton
Dagny Kielland:
Ragnhild Heiland Sørensen – Soprano
Johannes Grøgaard (Minutten):
Arild Helleland – Tenor
Marta Gude:
Frøydis Klausberger – Mezzo soprano
The hotel host:
Stein -Arild Thorsen – Bass
The chief constable:
Terje Stensvold – Baryton
Johan Kvandal om seg selv
Som de fleste norske komponister av min generasjon begynte jeg med å skrive musikk med nær tilknytning til norsk tonefølelse, men uten å benytte meg av folkemusikk.
Johan Kvandal om sin Hamsun- opera: – Jeg leter efter det egentlige
– Jeg var i Stockholm forleden og så en opera om en komponist som ikke klarte å få ferdig sin bestilte opera. Jeg kunne ikke komme meg raskt nok hjem til pianoet, bunkene med blanke noteark og stabler med Hamsun- bøker. Forteller Johan Kvandal, som mens Nationaltheatret kaster alt scenelys inn på Knut Hamsun, sitter ute på Slependen ved Oslo og føyer tone til tone til det som forhåpentlig vil bli en opera bygget over Hamsun- romanen “Mysterier”.
Operatic Mysteries
“I have dreamed of a great deed on Earth”, says Johan Nilsen Nagel, the main character in Johan Kvandal’s opera Mysteries, thereby putting the main theme of the opera into works. Kvandal started working on Mysteries at the beginning of 1990. The novel is about strong characters who are well suited for musical drama, says Kvandal.