BERIT OPHEIM

Berit Opheim is a highly respected and talented singer, and one of the foremost female singers in Norway today. During the past fifteen years she´s been working on many recordings and toured Norway and abroad. She has received several prizes and awards and is a member of different ensembles. Her clear and strong voice and her skills to built further on folk music traditions is in many ways groundbreaking on the national Norwgian music scene.

A new version of the legendary DRAUMKVEDET (2 CDs)

BERIT OPHEIM VERSTO, vocals
KARL SEGLEM, goat horn

Draumkvedet was transcribed by Jørgen Moe and M. B. Landstad in the mid-19th century. Since then it has held a special place in Norwegian and Nordic folk poetry and the kvedar (traditional vocal) tradition, and inspires us again and again to ask the really profound questions about life and death. Draumkvedet is the most central and significant medieval ballad that has been passed down to us. This visionary poem is intriguing, challenging and provocative. Berit Opheim Versto has worked with this medieval ballad for many years, and her fantastic solo performance on the forthcoming album, to be released Jan. 6., 2009, was recorded at Voss Church.

Karl Seglem was so inspired by this performance that he just had to respond with his ram’s horn and electronics. He has arranged a version for a duo, vocals and ram’s horn, and has orchestrated it with ram’s horn and Hardanger fiddle samples. Berit Opheim Versto introduces something entirely new to the work – using improvisation, among other techniques – and her unique ability to communicate touches all those who are adventurous enough to listen to this ancient tale about Olav Åsteson. He falls asleep on Christmas Eve, and awakens on the thirteenth day of Christmas. He then tells about the dreams he had while asleep: astonishingly powerful, disturbing dreams, both beautiful and ugly – dreams that encompass the entire range of experiences that an insignificant human life can hold.

KARL SEGLEM

OSSICLES
NORCD (2010)
Catalog no.: NORCD10100

DANIEL HERSKEDAL

CITY STORIES
NORCD (2010)
Catalog no.: NORCD1094

DIVERSE WORLD MUSIC ARTISTS 2010

FøRDEFESTIVALEN 2010
NORCD (2010)
Catalog no.: NORCD1093

EPLEMØYA SONGLAG

EPLEMØYA SONGLAG
NORCD (2010)
Catalog no.: NORCD1091

AMHERST

A LIGHT EXISTS IN SPRING
NORCD (2010)
Catalog no.: NORCD1092

STURLA EIDE

TRILLER
NORCD (2010)
Catalog no.: NORCD1089

KENNETH SIVERTSEN

SPØR VINDEN
NORCD (2009)
Catalog no.: NORCD0990

KARL SEGLEM

SKODDEHEIMEN
NORCD (2009)
Catalog no.: NORCD0988

LINE HORNELAND

HORNELAND
NORCD (2009)
Catalog no.: NORCD0986

LENA SKJERDAL TRIO

HOME
NORCD (2009)
Catalog no.: NORCD0984