Lillehammer – Winter Olympic Games

In 1994, Arne Nordheim, among many other composers, received a commission to compose music for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer. Additionally, he composed the music drama Draumkvedet, which was staged at the Norwegian Theatre as a part of the Olympic cultural programme. The huge initial idea was based on the fact that the music would be presented to the whole world. He devised a global concert broadcast via satellite between the five continents, referring to a five-city concert prepared for the anniversary of the NRK. For numerous reasons, the project did not come to fruition. Instead, several earlier Nordheim works were adapted to the required time during both ceremonies. The appearance of the Norwegian royal family was marked by the sound of Venit Rex (1986) for signal band, mixed choir, symphony orchestra, pipe organ and bells. During the lighting of the Olympic fire, Varder [Beacons] (1986) for eight or more trumpets and orchestra was played. Then during the artistic part “A long time ago…”, several earlier works by Nordheim were used: Ohm for lur and tape, The Hunting of the Snark for trombone and tape, Lamentationes III for choir and Listen for piano.

During the closing ceremony, in the “Trolls” part of the artistic programme, excerpts from Nordheim’s orchestral piece Magma were performed, and in the official part of the ceremony – Lux illuxit.

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