Opening ceremony
Find the live stream from Torgallmenningen on this page at 12:10
Symphonic opening of the 73rd Festival.
The traditional free event at Torgallmenningen marks the start of the 2025 Bergen International Festival.
On stage, the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra will perform, there will be speeches for the occasion and the traditional singing of Nystemten and the Norwegian national anthem Ja, vi elsker.
'It is with great pleasure that we can confirm that Her Majesty Queen Sonja will attend the opening day of the Bergen International Festival 2025,' says Festival Director Lars Petter Hagen.
This year's Festival offers 15 days of experiences for thousands of people – on, in front of, and behind the stage – with around half of the events being free of charge.
A warm welcome to the opening of the 73rd edition of the Bergen International Festival!
11:30
The area at Torgallmenningen with seating opens.
12:10
Her Majesty The Queen arrives at The Blue Stone, and Kongekorpset performs.
The live stream begins, and will be streamed on this webpage.
12:30
The Bergen International Festival opening ceremony begins on the Torgallmenningen stage:
The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Grete Pedersen and featuring soloists, will perform music by Grieg, Stravinsky, Schubert, and Beethoven.
Minister of Culture and Equality, Lubna Jaffery, and the Mayor of Bergen, Marit Warncke, will give speeches.
Ja, vi elsker and Udsigter fra Ulriken (Nystemten) – with lead singers from the stage.
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Image at top: Prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre at the 2024 opening ceremony (photo: Synne S. B. Bønes)
Seating available. Arrive early in order to secure a seat.
The use of umbrellas is not permitted on the premises.
The opening ceremony will be streamed on fib.no.
All ages
Performed in Norwegian
Sign language interpretation available
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Grete Pedersen conductor
Hanne Marit Mordal Iversen, Maria Haukenes Malmedal, Ian Marcus Bjørsvik, Andreas Jansson song
Tarjei Strøm host
Kongekorpset:
Midtun Skoles Musikkorps
Marius Fevang Thorstensen conductor
Samnanger Skulemusikklag
Per-Lorentz Milotzki conductor
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
Preludium, From Holberg's time, Op. 40
Igor Stravinskij (1882-1971)
Pulcinella Suite – 1. Sinfonia
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
Once Upon a Time, Op. 71, No. 1
Arr. Grete Pedersen
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
The Last Spring, Op. 33 No. 2
Arr. Thomas Beck and Grete Pedersen
Speech by the Minister og Culture and Equality
Rikard Nordraak (1842–1866), Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (1832–1910)
Ja, vi elsker dette landet
Luciano Berio (1925-2003) / Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Rendering – 1st Movement: Allergo
Speech by the Mayor of Bergen
Johan Nordahl Brun (1745-1816), Johan Halvorsen (1864-1935), Jean-Babtiste Lully (1632–1687)
Nystemten (Udsigter fra Ulriken)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1847)
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Fate Symphony, 4th Movement