Interview with Eldbjørg Hemsing

"My motto in life is to stay curious."

Born in Valdres, Norway, Eldbjørg Hemsing is one of the leading young violinists of our time. Like her and her sister Ragnhild, her mother was a professional violinist, and music was ever-present in their home. She inherited her love of nature from her father, a scientist responsible for the protection of a natural reservoir. Her international career has taken off rapidly. She has recorded three award-winning albums, premiered several acclaimed new compositions, and performed in the world's most prestigious concert halls. As a cultural ambassador for Norway, she has performed at numerous major international events, including the United Nations, the Shanghai Expo, and the UN Security Council, and has traveled internationally with the Norwegian Royal Family. She enjoys a close collaboration with composer Tan Dun, with whom she has premiered, recorded, and performed several award-winning works. Eldbjørg Hemsing is actively involved in a variety of projects, all based on her passionate interest in making classical music accessible to a wider audience.

You grew up in a village of fewer than 500 inhabitants in Norway and started playing the violin at the age of two. What was your childhood like?
I grew up in a musical family in Valdres and had a very peaceful and fun childhood. I started playing at the age of five and gave my first concert for the Norwegian royal family when I was six. I am so grateful to have been exposed to music at such a young age and to have such a relationship with it!

Your hometown of Valdres is known for traditional folk music, which is often blended with new genres. What is your connection to this folk music?
Folk music in Valdres is an important part of the region's identity; as in any valley in Norway with a strong folk music tradition, you will find certain melodies with very specific rhythmic patterns that are only played in that area. I grew up playing the Hardanger fiddle as well as the classical violin, and I believe this combination gave me a great sense of freedom and playfulness in my approach to classical music. I've thought a lot about how to search for colors in sound and learn to play flexibly.

You also play the Hardanger fiddle, a traditional Norwegian instrument similar to a violin. What is so special about this instrument, what do you like about it?
It's a unique instrument steeped in tradition; the first Hardanger fiddle was found around 1600 and is only found in Norway. It has eight or nine strings, and the Hardanger fiddle can be tuned in up to 27 different ways, depending on the mood, the time of day, and what you're playing. It's richly decorated with mother-of-pearl in various patterns, and the head of the fiddle is shaped like a dragon—to ward off evil spirits. It's a beautifully sounding instrument!

You're the artistic director of SPIRE, a competition to promote young artists. Can you tell us more about it?
SPIRE is an annual talent program of the Nordland Music Festival that seeks out young musicians on the cusp of their professional careers and offers them guidance and support. We aim to broaden their horizons and equip them with the tools to shape their future. The program began five years ago and has grown considerably over the years. It is a great pleasure for me to be able to give something back to the next generation of musicians.

In 2013, you and your sister Ragnhild founded the Hemsing Festival in your hometown of Valdres. What is special about this festival?
We are a small, intimate chamber music festival with the slogan "Intimate Encounters with Great Music!" It takes place in our home village of Aurdal and is an annual four-day festival in February, focusing on chamber music, nature, and the best that Valdres has to offer. We host fellow musicians and friends from all over Europe, and it is a truly wonderful event.

You work closely with the composer Tan Dun, whose pieces you have premiered and recorded. How did this collaboration come about?
I met Tan Dun at the 2010 World Expo, where I was asked to premiere one of his violin concertos. It was a fantastic meeting, and I am incredibly grateful to Tan Dun for the trust he placed in me. I have since premiered and performed many of his works, and his musical universe is simply so fascinating and wonderful! He is a very curious, open-minded person, and I have learned so much from him.

Nature is very important to you. Where do you see the connection between nature and music?
I think you can see it in everything, from beauty and silence to geometry and mathematics. There is a wonderful quote by the composer Béla Bartók: "Each note is like the leaves of a tree, each has its own unique appearance and feeling," and I think this idea translates very well to music.

What is your motto in life?
Stay curious!

You will be playing Nordic sounds at the Swiss Classics in Andermatt. What can we look forward to?
We will be playing pieces by composers such as Grieg, Halvorsen, Svendsen, and Tchaikovsky. The Nordic sound can encompass many things, and we want to showcase a part of the North that has such a rich cultural history. I am very much looking forward to playing with the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra and the pianist Håvard Gimse – together we will create a very special evening, and I hope to see you there!

Interview by Florian Schär | Classicpoint.net | May 1, 2024