The summer of 2024 saw the resurrection of Peaches Christ Superstar in Vienna, Salome at the Scaldis Festival, and a few other festival appearances. But perhaps most exciting was the first edition of PODIUM - Fartein Valen Internasjonale Musikkfest; a new, fused, and expanded version of the festival Nikolai Matthews and I have been running in Haugesund, Norway, for almost two decades.
This year was a real turning point for the festival. After years of fostering a dedicated local audience, we took a leap by merging the best of what PODIUMfestivalen and Fartein Valen-festivalen had to offer.
We expanded in every sense: 10 days, 10 venues, 3 municipalities; with a wonderfully engaged audience and wonderful performances from everyone involved. The festival brought together an eclectic mix of musicians and composers, ranging from Fartein Valen’s deeply introspective works to world premieres of brand-new compositions.
One of the highlights was seeing how this festival has become a place for collaboration. Whether it was children discovering improvisation through Transfigurator 3000 or local musicians working work side-by-side with international artists, there was a sense of shared ownership. We’ve always wanted the festival to be a living thing, where the community is as much a part of the music as the performers themselves. 2024 really felt like the beginning of something larger, something that could become something very unique. And, of course, the numbers reflected this—ticket sales and attendance far exceeded previous years.
We are already looking ahead to 2025, which, judging by the response from this summer, is going to be very exciting. We have some ludicrous plans for next year, but more on that later. For now, I’m grateful for everyone who made this first edition of PODIUM - Fartein Valen internasjonale musikkfest such an unforgettable experience. It’s not every day you get to watch something you’ve nurtured for so long evolve into its next phase, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.