Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony marks the beginning of 15 days filled with music and performing arts for thousands of people. The stage will be filled with musicians from the next generation.

The Bergen International Festival has a long tradition of creating a stage for young artists, and the many initiatives are brought together under the Festival Academy of Bergen. It is precisely young musicians from the Festival Academy who will open this year’s Festival, together with, among others, musicians from the Norwegian National Youth Orchestra and the sensational sibling duo Alma and Franz Serafin Kraggerud on violin and cello.

'The Festival is a meeting place, both on and around the stage. At the Festival Academy of Bergen, young artists can share and gain new experiences, develop artistically, and be inspired by encounters with international artists, while the audience gets the chance to discover exciting new names,' says Festival Director Lars Petter Hagen.

Crown Prince Haakon will be in attendance, and, as tradition dictates, the audience will sing both Nystemten and the Norwegian national anthem Ja, vi elsker. There will also be speeches by both the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Bergen. The host is Tarjei Strøm.

The event is free and open for everyone.

Image from the 2025 Opening ceremony. Photo: Thor Brødreskift

Time schedule

• 11:30 – The area at Torgallmenningen with seating opens

• 12:10 – His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon arrives at Den blå stein (the blue stone). Flowers and music from Norges Musikkorpsforbund Hordaland

• 12:30 – The Bergen International Festival opening ceremony begins

Programme

• Ole Bull (1810–1880), Jørgen Moe (1813–1882)
  Sæterjentens søndag

• Speech by the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre

• Rikard Nordraak (1842–1866), Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (1832–1910)
  Ja, vi elsker dette landet (Norway's national anthem)

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
  «Voi che sapete» from Le nozze di Figaro, KV 492

• Johan Halvorsen (1864–1935)
  Passacaglia (after Händel) for violin and cello

• Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
  Nocturne, op. 19 no. 4

• Speech by the Mayor of Bergen, Marit Warnche

• Johan Halvorsen (1864–1935), Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632–1687), Johan Nordahl Brun (1745–1816)
  Nystemten (Udsigter fra Ulrikken)

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
  Symphony no. 40 in G minor K. 550 – 1. Molto allegro

Contributors

• Tarjei Strøm host

• Arvid Engegård conductor

• Norwegian National Youth Orchestra’s chamber orchestra

• Alma Serafin Kraggerud violin

• Franz Serafin Kraggerud cello

• Victoria Randem voice

Practical information

• 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 here on fib.no.

Recommended age

All ages

Language

• Performed in Norwegian​

• Sign language interpretation available

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