From The invisible people to a catwalk through the city

Panel debates, films, masterclasses, concerts and a huge catwalk for the city’s population: Now, the Bergen International Festival programme is very nearly complete.  

A collection of people from Bergen 

What Is the City but the People? is a celebration of the people in the city where we live, and is the name of this year’s opening ceremony. At the beginning of the 15 Festival days, a 60-meter long catwalk will appear on Festplassen in the city centre.  

In the performance Näkymätön kansa – The invisible people another question is posed: What do you see when you think of a Kven? In this critically acclaimed theatre performance, the Kven actors search, together with the audience, for the meaning of the term Kven, in a theatrical conversation about northern identity. 

The Pride celebrations are also coming up, and together with Den Nationale Scene and Regnbuedagene i Bergen, the Festival will celebrate with music, drag and powerful voices.  

Perhaps you even dare to challenge a Brann player to a football skills competition? Brann Women’s Team players will arrive at the Festival square to meet your challenge, give tips and tricks – and perhaps an autograph or two. 

Debates and an opera pub 

Engaging conversations, discussions and interviews will take place during the Festival. A discussion on the Western canon with best-selling author Alex Ross, a meeting with Artist in residence Lise Davidsen or artist and musician Nils Bech, the story of Festival composer Anne-Marie Ørbeck or a revisiting of old cultural debates – in the debates programme at Kulturhuset, there will be diverse topics and interesting listening throughout the festival.  

With Bergen Nasjonale Opera, there will be an informal OperaPub as sopranos and tenors, local amateurs, students or choir members join in on stage at Kulturhuset.  

Folk and folksy in various formats 

The concert series at Kulturhuset is now complete with several award-winning and critically acclaimed musicians.  

Kim Myhr is the Norwegian composer and guitarist who have swept reviewers off their feet with last year’s album Sympathetic Magic. A mix of prog rock, contemporary classical music, jazz and folk becomes a sonic landscape which is both ecstatic and moving in symphonic proportions.  

Swedish Sara Parkman is a modern folk icon, rediscovering folk music while creating a concert experience belonging somewhere within an undiscovered place between a farm and a nightclub. 

Estonian folk music is being rediscovered in Europe, and central to its revival is Mari Kalkun. In sonic love letters, she performs with vocals inspired by runic songs and accompanies herself on piano, guitar, flutes and kannel – a traditional Estonian hand-held sitar. 

… And much, much more 

The programme is filled with film, music and outdoor activities. Find the whole programme here. There will also be a few more surprises, but the full programme for the 2023 Bergen International Festival will be ready very soon.  

Presales with FiB Fordel membership 

Public onsales begin Friday 24 March at 10:00. With the FiB Fordel membership you can purchase tickets now. Read more about and buy the membership here. 

All launched events are published here on fib.no.