POING

POING’s repertoire is characterised by a near limitless imagination. The trio consists of three artists with exceptional musical range, equally adept at interpreting Åge Aleksandersen and Tom Waits as classical and contemporary music.

POING found each other at the Norwegian Academy of Music in 1999, where they studied what they have called ‘cursed instruments’ from a classical music perspective. Their first commissioned works came from their schoolmates, including Maja S.K. Ratkje, Lars Petter Hagen, and Øyvind Torvund. Since then, POING has commissioned and performed over 200 new works.

In 2024, the trio marked their 25th anniversary with the release of Almost Classic, featuring their own interpretations of, among others, Mahler and Tchaikovsky.

In Troldsalen, POING will perform a new piece by Anna Berg. Berg is Kode’s composer in residence for 2025 and NRK has referred to Berg as one of Norway’s greatest talents in composition. She writes pieces for all types of ensembles and media – most recently for Dag Johan Haugerud’s film Drømmer. Berg contributes with an introduction and reflections throughout the concert, in a programme that includes music by Edvard Grieg, Gustav Mahler and Fartein Valen.

Photo: Anna Julia Granberg / BLUNDERBUSS

Transport

With your concert ticket you can book free return bus transportation from the Tourist Information to the venue at Troldhaugen. Departure one hour before the concert starts, return after the concert. The journey takes approx. 30 min. 

Contributors

• POING:

• Rolf-Erik Nystrøm saxophone

• Frode Haltli accordion

• Håkon Thelin double bass

• Anna Berg composer, introduction

Music by

• Grieg

• Mahler

• Berg

• Valen

Works

• Edvard Grieg (1843–1907)
  From Lyric Pieces, Book III, op. 43
  4. Little bird
  2. Solitary traveller

• Gustav Mahler (1860–1911)
  From Symphony no. 6 in A minor
  3. Scherzo: Wuchtig
  arr. by POING for saxophone, accordion and double bass

• Anna Berg (1992–)
  Work commissioned for POING, title to be announced

• Fartein Valen (1887–1952)
  Epithalamion, op. 19

A co-production between

Bergen International Festival and Kode

Supported by

The Savings Bank Foundation DNB