Andsnes and the Oslo Philharmonic at the cinema

Live Kino and the Bergen International Festival have entered into a collaboration to distribute a concert with pianist Leif Ove Andsnes and the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra to Norwegian cinemas. The concert will be exclusively available in cinemas between 14–20 January 2021 and is the first Norwegian-produced concert to be distributed widely to the Norwegian cinema market.

Event cinema is a growing genre in Norwegian cinemas. It has within a short time become a new audience favourite thanks to productions from some of the world's most famous artists, stages and museums. The festival has long aimed to have a concert shown on the big screen.

‘The purpose of the Bergen International Festival is to present art experiences to as many people as possible, and we are excited and happy to be able to use the cinema as an arena, says festival director Anders Beyer.

After all cultural events were called off this spring, the festival acted swiftly and instead arranged a digital festival with 60 programme events. The cinema concert Andsnes & The Oslo Philharmonic play Mozart was the festival's closing concert in 2020.

‘After the coronavirus caused cancellation upon cancellation during the spring, it was wonderful to be able to play at the Bergen International Festival in May. That the concert with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra can now gain new life on cinema screens across the country is extra nice, says Leif Ove Andsnes.

The pianist gave a number of concerts during this year's festival and played music solely by Mozart at the closing concert. The reviews were brilliant: “The result is a musical roller coaster where the music runs on rails from rumbling depths to howling heights. In other words, a more than worthy ending to this year's all-digital Bergen International Festival”, wrote Aftenposten.

Facts/Live Kino

• Established in 2018

• Norway's only cinema distributor which specializes in content from the cultural segment for the big screen.

• Distributes live events and recordings of opera, ballet and concerts, as well as documentaries and performances in culture and entertainment.