Composers / Arne Nordheim / Places catalog

“Grotto”

The “Grotto” is consdered to be the first house built in Norway in the Alpine style. It was erected by the Romantic bard Henric Wergeland, who lived here from 17 May 1841 to 15 April 1845. He designed it personally, in cooperation with the architect of the royal palace, Hans Ditlev Fransicus von Linstow. The house is located in the north-eastern part of the Palace Park (Stlottsparken).

Since 1922, the “Grotto” has been owned by the state and been reserved for distinguished artists. The first to live here, after the building's renovation, was the composer Christian Sinding (from 1921 until his death, in 1941). As a token of gratitude to Arnulf Øverland, who, as president of the writers’ association, nominated him as the first tenant of the “Grotto”, Sinding composed a work to his poem "Et seil glir bort i kveldens blå" [A sail glides by in the blue…]. Øverland doubtless did not expect that in 1946 he would take the house over from Sinding. He lived there until his death, in 1968, survived by his wife, who lived in the house for ten more years. The house was later renovated and modernised, and in 1981 the honour of living in the “Grotto” was awarded to Arne Nordheim and his wife, Rannveig Getz, who – as an interior designer – made numerous alterations. The year after Nordheim's death (2010), the tenancy of the “Grotto” was given to the playwright Jon Fosse.

Nordheim composed music in his study on the first floor, and the couple continued the tradition from Wergeland's times of inviting artists and friends there on the national holiday of 17 May. The official opening of the renewed house also took place on 17 May, in 1982. For that occasion, Arne Nordheim performed Sinding's song to words by Øverland and composed, in Sindig’s spirit, a melody to Wergeland’s poem "Den første sommerfugl" [The first butterfly] for piano and harp (several years later, in 1991, he also wrote music for another work by Wergeland, "Sagvise" [The saw's song], for countertenor, two tenors, bass and tape. Many minor chamber pieces by Nordheim were played during house concerts at the “Grotto”.

Place Category
13 Øvre Jegerborggate, Larvik Other
3 Olavsgate, Larvik Other
Artists' House Other
Arts Council Norway Other
Bayreuth Appearances
Bekkelaget Sewage Treatment Plant Other
Bergen Festival Appearances
Brekstad in Ørland commune Other
British Broadcasting Corporation Radio / TV
Calmeyergaten Mission House Appearances
City Hall Other
Concertgebouw Appearances
Concert Palace Appearances
Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Den Nationale Scene Appearances
Edition Wilhelm Hansen
Publishers / Bookshops
Feliks Nowowiejski Warmia and Masuria Philharmonic Appearances
Festiviteten Other
Grieghallen Appearances
“Grotto” Flats
Håkonshallen Appearances
Henie-Onstad Art Centre in Baerum Education
Hergisheim Flats
International Bach Academy Appearances
Israeli Radio Radio / TV
Israel Music Institute Other
Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance Other
Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra Appearances
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Appearances
Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music Education
Larvik church Churches / Places of worship
Lillehammer – Winter Olympic Games Other
Lodge Theatre Performance spaces
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra Appearances
National Library Education
National Theatre Performance spaces
Netherlands Dance Theatre
New Music Association
Nidaros Cathedral Churches / Places of worship
Norwegian Academy of Music Education
Norwegian Opera Other
Norwegian Opera at the Folk Theatre Appearances
Norwegian Society of Composers Other
Norwegian Theatre I Other
Norwegian Theatre II Other
Norwegian University of Science and Technology NTNU Education
NOTAM Education
NRK radio and television Radio / TV
Observatory Other
Old Lodge (Gamle Logen) Appearances
Orchester der Württembergischen Staatsoper Appearances
Osaka Congress Hall (EXPO 70)
Oslo Cathedral Churches / Places of worship
Oslo Conservatory of Music Education
Oslo Philharmonic Appearances
Polish Radio Experimental Studio Radio / TV
Quality Hotel Grand Farris Hotels / Inns
“Rendezvous” for strings Appearances
Rombergata School Education, Other
Royal Norwegian Consulate General, New York Other
Royal Swedish Academy of Music Education
Santori Horu (Suntory Hall) Appearances
Storedal Cultural Centre Other
Swedish Radio Radio / TV
SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg Appearances
Teatro La Fenice Performance spaces
Theatre Café Coffeehouses
Town Hall in Gdańsk Other
Trento Other
University Aula Other
Wailing Wall Churches / Places of worship
Warsaw Autumn Performance spaces
Witold Lutosławski Society Other