Why go
Founded in 1988, the festival has brought Norwegian and international performers to Tromsø, including musicians connected to Northern Norway. Its range has extended from chamber music and opera to jazz and orchestral concerts. Choose a performance from the current programme rather than assuming one genre, venue or side event will recur.
The full story
Nordlysfestivalen, also called the Northern Lights Festival, began in 1988. Its identity has never rested on one kind of music. Its programmes have brought together early and modern music, opera, chamber groups, jazz and symphony orchestras. Norwegian artists such as Mari Boine and Jan Garbarek appeared alongside international performers, while musicians from Northern Norway were part of the mix. This breadth is the useful context for reading a new programme: a visitor looking for a quiet chamber concert may find a very different evening from someone choosing an orchestra or jazz set. Editions have also included lectures, exhibitions and outdoor events, but those depend on the year's programme. The festival's connection to regional musical life has been marked by the Nordlysprisen, an award associated with work in Northern Norway. That history makes a local artist's appearance more than a supporting slot in a winter events calendar.
Useful to know
- Use the current programme to choose a concert and its venue; the mix of genres changes.