Bergen Cathedral Choir

The BERGEN CATHEDRAL CHOIR was established in the autumn of 2009. As a cathedral choir, this choir is a steward of a long and rich choral heritage. The choir is committed to preserving and renewing this heritage through quality performances of the established repertoire as well as focussing on newer music by twenty-first century composers. The choir specialises in creating interesting programs and presenting exciting repertoire, and its repertoire list spans the centuries from Renaissance masses to commissions by young Norwegian composers. Bergen Cathedral Choir gives frequent concerts throughout the year, in Bergen, throughout the diocese of Bjørgvin and abroad. The choir has toured in England, Germany and Finland. The choir regularly collaborates with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Bergen Barokk, the Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces, the Bergen International Festival, Stavanger Cathedral Choir and others. The Cathedral Choir sings at services in Bergen Cathedral, often in chamber ensembles. ORGANIST ARNFINN TOBIASSEN (1981–) studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he graduated with several top prizes in 2007. His professors included Susan Landale, James O’Donnell, David Titterington and Lionel Rogg. In 2010 Arnfinn Tobiassen was appointed organist and choirmaster at the parish church of St Olav, Avaldsnes. Tobiassen has performed in the major London cathedrals, in the Basilica of St James, Prague, Leeds Town Hall and St Giles, Edinburgh. He gave one of the inaugural recitals for the new organ at Stavanger Concert Hall in 2013, and has been a soloist at the Bergen International Festival. Tobiassen was awarded first prize at international organ competitions in Opava (Czech Republic) in 2006 and Kansas City (USA) in 2010. He has a keen interest in folk music, and his fascination with the relationships between folk music and classical music traditions and his interest in Norwegian and Scandinavian music are often mirrored in his recital programmes – as well as on this disc. He is artistic director of the Norwegian Organ Festival.