BIOGRAPHY 2023/2024
"Ragnhild Hemsing's emotional resonance still resonates,
long after the music has ceased to be heard."
- Julian Haylock
Since her childhood, violinist and Hardanger fiddler Ragnhild Hemsing has been deeply connected to the rich folk tradition of her home country Norway. As a result, she is uniquely able to successfully combine the typical elements of Norwegian folk music and classical music in a youthful, fresh and completely new way.
Born in Valdres in 1988, Ragnhild Hemsing began playing the violin at the age of five and the traditional Hardanger fiddle shortly afterwards. Later she studied at the Barratt Due Music Institute in Oslo and with Professor Boris Kuschnir in Vienna. At only 14 years old, Ragnhild made her debut with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, playing Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. Since then, she has built an international career and brought the Hardanger fiddle to prominence outside Norway.
Ragnhild Hemsing's extensive repertoire of classical solo works for violin and lesser-known, complex works for the fiddle make her one of the most versatile musicians of our time.
In the 2023/2024 season, Ragnhild Hemsing will perform a wide range of programmes throughout Europe.
In October 2023, together with the Philharmonic Orchestra Regensburg, she will perform Concerto for Hardanger Fiddle and Orchestra No. 2 by Tveitt from her current album BRUCH + TVEITT at the Regensburg Theatre.
In addition, her concerts will take Hemsing to Katowice in Poland, where she will perform Grieg's Peer Gynt with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. She will also perform Glass' Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in the Grieghallen in Bergen.
Another highlight will be Hemsing's debut with the Brighton Philharmonic under the baton of young conductor Adam Hickoxim at the Brighton Dome in April 2024.
A tour with Trondheim Soloists will take the artist to Germany again with concerts in Munich and Fürth, among others. Together with the Württembergisches Orchester Reutlingen, Ragnhild Hemsing will be heard in Reutlingen and at the Gezeitenkonzerte in East Frisia.
In the field of chamber music, Ragnhild Hemsing will be heard in Germany with long-standing partners such as the cellist Benedict Klöckner and Bjarke Mogensen.
Last season Hemsing made her debut at the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the MDR-Musiksommer, the Kölner Philharmonie, the Musée d'Orsay and the Sinfonieorchester Wuppertal, among others, where she opened the season. On a tour of Germany with the Trondheim Soloists, she captivated audiences with Grieg's Peer Gynt Suites. Hemsing also returned to the USA and accepted the invitation from the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival.
She performed chamber music and solo with orchestra at the renowned Weilburger Schlosskonzerte and followed (re)invitations from the Nürnberg Symphoniker, the German Baroque Orchestra L'arte del Mondo, the Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen, the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra (KORK), the Trondheim Soloists, the Kristiansand Orchestra and the Barokkanerne (Norwegian Baroque Ensemble).
Important debuts in recent years include concerts with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, the NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover, the MRD Symphony Orchestra (under Kristjan Järvi), the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra Freiburg, the Residence Orchestra The Hague, the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra (under Santtu-Matias Rouvali), the Belgian National Orchestra, the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra, as well as appearances at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., at the Tonhalle Düsseldorf, the Tonhalle Zürich, the Beethovenfest Bonn, the Risør Chamber Music Festival and the Schwetzingen SWR Festival and the St. Petersburg Mariinsky Concert Hall.
Her album Røta (= roots) with works by classical Norwegian composers and traditional folk music for violin and Hardanger fiddle received excellent reviews. "Almost too good to be true" is the verdict of journalist Stephan Bartels, and Alain Steffen writes in pizzicato: "Ragnhild Hemsing plays all the pieces with much love and care, technically flawless, but always in the spirit of traditional Norwegian music. The purity of the music and the meditative power, the richness of colour and the sparse but warm soul images set in as if by themselves, offering the listener an intense and truly beautiful listening experience [...]."
Spring 2022 saw the release of her latest album, featuring Edvard Grieg's famous Peer Gynt Suite with the Trondheim Soloists. The newly commissioned arrangement for violin and Hardanger fiddle by Tormod Tvete Vik premiered at the Bergen International Festival in May 2021 and was euphorically received by audiences and the press. On the digital platforms Spotify and Apple Music, the album turned out to be a great success with high streaming numbers.
In early 2023, Hemsing released her album BRUCH + TVEITT on the Berlin Classics label, for which she recorded Bruch's Violin Concerto and Tveitt's Concerto for Orchestra and Hardanger Fiddle No. 2 together with Bergen Philharmonic.
In November 2023, Hemsing's fans can look forward to another album, which will again be released on the Berlin Classics label. The album VETRA will deal with compiled, as yet unknown and rarely played melodies and works from her homeland Valdres collected by Ludvig Mathias Lindeman in the 1800s, and will let this cultural heritage be heard in a modern way.
Her recording of Halvorsen's Fossegrimen op. 21 with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and Neeme Järvi (Chandos label) received great acclaim from the international press. Since this recording, the two have enjoyed a close working relationship. Among other things, Neeme Järvi invited the young artist to make her debut with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra in February 2012. Ragnhild Hemsing's albums Northern Timbre (label: 2L) and YR with Tor Espen Aspaas also met with a very positive response from the press and the public.
The duo's latest CD, Beethoven's Testaments (2L), received rave reviews. "Although Beethoven can be played in many ways, I simply have to say that this is exactly the way Beethoven should be played," wrote Magnus Andersson on musikkritikk.no.
In October 2021, Ragnhild Hemsing received the prestigious Opus Classic Prize in the category Classical Music without Borders for her album Røta and also performed at the Gala of the Prize Winners on 10.10.2021 at the Konzerthaus Berlin, which was broadcast live on ZDF television.
After her successful debut at the Beethovenfest Bonn in 2013, Ragnhild Hemsing received the Beethoven Ring, which is awarded annually to a Beethovenfest artist by the association "Citizens for Beethoven". In 2018, she was appointed by the Art Council as a member of the expert group for "touring activities". Since 2021, she has been an advisor to the Nordic-Baltic Mobility Program for Culture.
In 2013, Ragnhild Hemsing founded the "Hemsing Festival" with her sister Eldbjørg Hemsing, which the two have been running together ever since. The chamber music festival takes place every year in February in their hometown Aurdal/Valdres. In 2021 the festival will be made up in October after being cancelled in February. For more information, see: www.hemsingfestival.com.
Ragnhild Hemsing plays on a violin built by Francesco Ruggeri (Cremona, 1694) and a Hardanger fiddle previously played by the violinist and composer Ole Bull (1810-1880), dubbed the "Paganini of the North", both generously loaned by the Dextra Musica Foundation.
Changes and alterations require prior consultation with Grunau & Paulus Music Management.Ragnhild Hemsing, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra & Eivind Aadland - "Bruch & Tveitt" Teaser
Ragnhild Hemsing & Trondheim Soloists - Peer Gynt (Arr. for Hardanger Fiddle, Violin and Orchestra)
Ragnhild Hemsing & Norwegian Radio Orchestra (KORK); Johan Halvorsen - Fossegrimen Op. 21
Ragnhild Hemsing & Norwegian Radio Orchestra (KORK); Antonín Dvořák - romance in F minor op. 11
Ragnhild Hemsing & Norwegian Radio Orchestra (KORK); romance for violin and orchestra op. 26
Ragnhild Hemsing - Røta (Official Album Trailer) w/ Mario Häring & Benedict Kloeckner
Hemsing Larsen Trio
Ragnhild Hemsing stellt die Hardangerfiedel vor
Violin Concertos
Top priority:
Tubin, Eduard: Violin Concerto No. 1
Sibelius, Jean: Violin Concerto in D Minor, op. 47
Bruch, Max: Violin Concerto No 1 in G Minor op. 26
Szymanowski, Karol: Concerto no. 2 , op. 61
Tveitt, Geirr: «Three Fjords», Hardanger fiddle Concerto No 2 Op 252
Berg, Alban: Violin Concerto
Bruch, Max: Violin Concerto No 1 in G Minor op. 26
Bruch, Max: Double Concerto for Violin / Clarinet and Viola (playing the viola) in E minor, Op 88
Brustad, Bjarne: Violin Concerto no 1 (Norwegian)
Egge, Klaus: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 26 (1953) ( Norwegian)
Goldmark, Karl: Violin Concerto in A minor Op. 28
Haydn, Joseph: Violin Concerto in A Major “Melker”
Lalo, Edouard: Symphonie Espagnole op. 21
Mendelssohn, Felix: Violin Concerto in E Minor, op. 64
Mendelssohn, Felix: Concerto for Violin, Piano and String Orchestra
Mozart, W. A.: Concerto in B Major, no 1
Mozart, W. A.: Concerto in A Major, no 5
Mozart, W. A.: Sinfonia Concertante in Es for Violin, Viola and Orchestra
Mozart, W. A. : Concertone in C Major for two Violins and Orchestra, KV 190
Nordheim, Arne: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (Norwegian)
Prokofiev, Sergei: Violin Concerto no 2
Sibelius, Jean: Violin Concerto in D Minor, op. 47
Sæverud: Violin Concerto (Norwegian)
Szymanowski, Karol: Concerto no. 2 , op. 61
Tubin, Eduard: Violin Concerto No. 1
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major, op. 35
Valen, Vartein: Violin Concerto (started)
Vivaldi: Violin Concerto in D Major
Vivaldi: Concerto in A Minor for two Violins and Orchestra, op. 3, no. 8
Hardanger fiddle concertos
Tveitt, Geirr: «Three Fjords», Hardanger fiddle Concerto No 2 Op 252 Tveitt, Geirr: Hardanger Fiddle Concerto No 1
Halvorsen, Johan: Fossegrimen Suite Op. 21
Soloist with Chamber Orchestra
Vivaldi: Four Seasons
Bach: Violin Concerto No. 2 in E Major
Sparre Olsen, Carl Gustav: ”6 short pieces from Lom” for Violin and Orchestra Irgens-Jensen: «Altar» for Violin and String Orchestra
Kvandal: Fantasia for hardingfele og strykere, op. 82
Other repertoire for Violin and Orchestra
Borgstrøm, Hjalmar: Romance for Violin and Orchestra (dedicated to E. Ysaÿe) Bull, Ole: Polacca Guerriera and Sæterjentens Søndag
Halvorsen, Johan: Norwegian Dances No. 1 & 2
Irgens-Jensen: «Bols Vise» fra Driftekaren
Lie, Sigurd: “Huldra aa ́n Elland”, Concert Piece for Violin and Orchestra (~8'30'') Sinding, Christian: Suite for Violin and Orchestra
Svendsen, Johan: Romance for Violin and Orchestra G major op. 26
Chausson, Ernest: Poeme, Op 25
Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen Op. 20
Solo violin & Hardanger fiddle:
Achron, Joseph: Hebrew Melody
Bach: Solo Sonata no.1 in G Minor; Solo Partita no. 2 in D minor; Solo Partita no. 3 in E major; Solo Sonata no. 2 in A minor; Double Concerto for Two Violins
Other repertoire:
Beethoven: Sonata in D Major, no. 1, op 12 Beethoven: Sonata no 8 in G Major, op 30
Bolcom, William: Graceful Goast (1979)
Boulanger, Lilli: Nocturne
Borgström, Hjalmar: Romance for Violin and Orchestra (dedicated to E. Ysaÿe)
Bruch, Max: Violin Concerto in G Minor op. 26
Double Concerto for Violin / Clarinet and Viola (playing the viola) in E minor, Op 88
Brustad, Bjarne: “Eventyrsuiten” for solo violin
Bull, Ole: Polacca Guerriera ”I ensomme stunde” ”Seterjentens søndag”
Chausson, Ernest: Poeme, op. 25
Debussy, Claude: Sonata for Violin and Piano (1917)
Elgar, Edward: Salut d’ Amour Op. 12
Franck, César: Sonata in A Major
Grieg, Edvard: Violin Sonata in F Major, op. 8 Violin Sonata in G Major, op 13 Violin Sonata in C minor, op 4 No 3
Haydn, Joseph: Violin Concerto in A Major “Melker”
Halvorsen, Johan: Norwegian Dances 1 and 2, Gavotte
Halvorsen, Johan: Fossegrimen Suite Op. 21 for Hardanger fiddle and orchestra Veslemøy ́s Son;Hardanger fiddle, traditional tunes from Valdres and the region around Hubay, Jenö; Bolero Op. 51, No. 3
Honegger, Arthur: Sonatina for two violins, H. 29
Irgens-Jensen, Ludvig (Norwegian): Sonata for Violin and Piano
Kocian, Jaroslav: Intermezzo Pittoresque op. 18, no 2
Kodály, Zoltán: Duo for violin and violoncello, op.7
Kreisler, Fritz: Recitativo and Scherzo (solo) Rondino; Caprice Vennoice, op 2; Preludium and Allegro
Kroll, William: Banjo and fiddle
Kubelik, Jan: Menuett
Kvam, Oddvar S: 13, op. 115 (written for Ragnhild)
Kvandal, Johan: Quintet for Hardanger fiddle and string quartet Op. 50
Lie, Sigurd: “Huldra aa ́n Elland”, Concert Piece for Violin and Orchestra (~8'30'')
Massenet, Jules: Meditation from Thais
Mendelssohn, Felix: Violin Concerto in E Minor, op. 64; Concerto for Violin, Piano and String Orchestra
Monti, V.: Czardas
Mozart, W. A.:
Violin Concerto in B Flat Major, no 1
Violin Concerto in A Major, no 5
Duo for Violin and Viola in B Major, KV 524
Sinfonia Concertante in Es for Violin, Viola and Orchestra (30 Min) Concertone in C Major for two Violins and Orchestra, KV 190 (started)
Nielsen, Carl: Sonata for Violin and Piano no. 1 in A major op. 9
Nordheim, Arne: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (1997)
Paganini, Niccolò: From 24 Caprices for solo violin
Piazzolla, Astor: Fra “Tangoen historie”
Ptasinský, J.: Tanecek (Little dance)
Prokofiev, Sergei: Violin Concerto no 2; Sonata for 2 violins, Op 56
Ravel, Maurice: Tzigane
Saint-Saëns, Charles Camille: Introduction and Rondo Caprisioso
Sarasate, Pablo de: Carmen Fantasy, op. 25; Zigeunerweisen; Introduction et Tarentella, op. 43
Schubert, Franz: Rondo Brillante, op. 70; Sonatine in A Minor Op. posth. 137 No. 2
Schumann, Robert: Sonata in A Minor, op. 105
Shostakovich, Dmitri: Drei Duette for two violins and piano
Sinding, Christian: Suite for Violin and Orchestra Waltz
Sibelius, Jean: Violin Concerto in D Minor, op. 47 Danses Champetres Op 106 for violin and piano
Sparre Olsen: Berceuse; 6 bygdeviser fra Lom
Strauss, Richard: Sonata in E flat Major, op. 18
Suk, Josef: Four pieces, op. 7, no. 1 Love Song
Svendsen, Johan: Romance for Violin and Orchestra in G Major, op. 26
Spohr, Luis: Duo for two violins in D Major Op 67 No 1 and No 2
Sæverud, Harald: Violin Concerto
Tchaikovsky, Peter: Violin Concerto in D Major, op. 35
Telemann: Solo Fantasie no.4
Tveitt, Geirr: “Three fjords”, Violin Concerto no 2 for Hardanger fiddle and Orchestra, op 252 Hardanger fiddle concerto No 1
Thoresen, Lasse: Yr, for solo violin; “Sprang”, for two violins and string orchestra. Written for Eldbjørg, Ragnhild and the Trondheim Soloists
Vivaldi:
Violin Concerto in D Major
Violin Concerto in A Minor
Concerto in A Minor for two Violins and Orchestra, op. 3, no. 8 The Four Seasons
Wieniawski, Henri:
Kuyawiak
Legende
Polonaise in D Major
Scherzo Tarantella (also arr for two violins and orchestra) Études-Caprices, op. 18
Ysäye, A.: Solo Sonata no. 3, op 27, “Ballade”
BRUCH + TVEITT
Together with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Eivind Aadland.
Works by Bruch, Tveitt, Svendsen and Lie.
Label: Berlin Classics
LC: 06203
Distribution: Edel
Release: 31.03.2023
PEER GYNT
Together with the Trondheim Soloists.
Various pieces by Edvard Grieg from the play Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen. Arranged for violin and Hardanger fiddle by Tormod Tvete Vik.
Label: Berlin Classics
LC: 06203
Distribution: Edel
EAN: 0885470026466
Release: 25.02.2022
RØTA
Contributors: Ragnhild Hemsing, Mario Häring, Benedict Kloeckner
Label: Berlin Classics
LC: 06203
Distribution: Edel
Release: 05.02.2021
Northern Timbre
Works by Grieg, Sibelius und Nielsen
Ragnhild Hemsing, violin
Tor Espen Aspaas, piano
Label: 2L
LC: 27917
Distribution: Naxos Deutschland Musik & Video Vertriebs-GmbH
EAN: 7041888522928
Release: 30.06.2017
Johan Halvorsen: Orchesterwerke Vol.1-4
Works by Johan Halvorsen
Ragnhild Hemsing, Hardanger fiddle
Marianne Thorsen, piano
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Neeme Järvi
Label: Chandos
LC: 07038
Distribution: note 1 music gmbh
EAN: 0095115183427
Release: 03.10.2014
YR
Works by Olsen, Grieg, Thoresen / Traditional tunes
Ragnhild Hemsing, violin
Tor Espen Aspaas, piano
Label: Simax
LC: 05789
Distribution: Naxos Deutschland Musik & Video Vertriebs-GmbH
EAN: 7033662013159
Release: 17.10.2011
Johan Halvorsen: Orchesterwerke, Vol. 3
Works by Johan Halvorsen
Ragnhild Hemsing, Hardanger fiddle
Marianne Thorsen, violin
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Neeme Järvi
Label: Chandos
LC: 07038
Distribution: note 1 music gmbh
EAN: 0095115166420
Release: 15.04.2011