Norway Inspires

Ringstad wins Eurovision Young Musicians finals

17-year old viola player Eivind Holtsmark Ringstad takes home the victory of the 2012 Eurovision Young Musicians finals.

At an EBU-broadcasted major finals show held in Vienna on Friday, 11^th of May, 17-year old viola player Eivind Holtsmark Ringstad took home the victory of the 2012 Eurovision Young Musicians competition playing Béla Bartók’s Viola Concerto.

-Overwhelming! was Ringstad’s initial response after having received the first prize.

CNN has taken a close look at what they consider the world's ten most underrated cities, and Bergen on the West Coast of Norway is on their list.

Bergen is one of several places around the world that are normally not on the average tourist's radar, but should be, according to CNN's recent rating of the world's most underrated cities.
These cities are creative hubs, filled with pleasant locals that deserve a lot more attention, CNN reports.

Sensation among international researchers - Norwegian school subject

A new subject at school Trudvang in Sogndal give rise to a sensation among international researchers.

To get the children in good shape all pupils at the school subject participate in "FYSAK" every day there is no physical education. This is combining a traditional school subject with physical activity.- This is absolutely fantastic. It is a model all over the world should pay attention to, says the Canadian professor Heather McKay.

Much more fun

More and more young people are not physically active and are facing at an early age serious lifestyle diseases. At the same time physical education does not have have the same status in the school as Norwegian, English and mathematics.

Norwegian quintet Kristiansund Wind Quintet will be touring Poland in the period May 27 - June 1. The team is part of the Opera in Kristiansund. Artists, who plays the flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon will perform in Warsaw, Kielce, Lublin and Sandomierz.

Picnic of Children literature is a multidisciplinary educational project. Aimed at children aged 3 to 15 years and their parents. Its aim is to improve reading among children, the promotion of Polish literary tradition, familiarizing children with the literary and cultural heritage of European countries.Many surprises and activities for children and parents:

Jonas Gahr Støre
Photo: regjeringen.no

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre says relations between Norway and Poland are continuing to grow in both breadth and depth.

"Our cooperation with Poland has developed more rapidly over the last few years than that with almost any other European country,” Støre says.

Mr Støre is accompanying Norwegian King Harald and Queen Sonja on the state visit to Poland, which started on Wednesday in Warsaw with the signing of three new cooperation programmes on research, education grants and culture.

Photo: NTB scanpix

Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja are on a State visit to Poland, from 9 - 11 May 2012. On behalf of Trade and Industry Ministry as well as the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Warsaw, Innovation Norway invites Norwegian companies, organizations and institutions to participate in the business delegation. The main purpose of the visit is to strengthen and further develop the cooperation relations and promote Norway as an active and reliable partner.

Source: UNESCO

The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Section for Cultural Affairs participates in an inter-ministerial working group arranging the Norwegian contribution to the celebration of the 40^th year of UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention. The Section for Cultural Affairs is represented in this group by the undersigned. The aim is to use this web site as a “voice from the grass roots” and receive as many inputs, photos and comments as possible, especially from young people living at or near a World Heritage site: http://www.livingwithworldheritage.com/

Photo: Jon Sandmo

It is not every day that two polar bears fight with a giant walrus. Nor is it quite common to catch it all with a camera!

Jon Sandmo operates normally as a tour operator on Svalbard. But this weekend it was the tour operator himself who got to experience an unusual breathtaking meeting at Spitsbergen.

From just 100 meters distance, he could observe two polar bears in their confrontation with a giant walrus.

- I was at my cabin near Svea, when I saw something moving on the ice by the water. I saw that there were two large polar bears in some activity, assuming that they were catching a seal, he told NRK.

Confrontation with a huge walrus
Sandmo is accustomed to see polar bears,

Arthur Langerud (right) og Mikal Johnsen does not
think that the age is a barrier to exercise.

Photo: Odd Rune Kyllingstad/NRK

It is reminiscent of a playground for children, but it is a separate exercise park for the elderly. The first of its kind in a nursing home.

It was a great day at the nursing home on Hundvåg today. As the first nursing home in Norway they got their own recreational park for the elderly.

- I am only 94 years, that is no age today, says Arthur Langerud, one of the residents of the nursing home, and today he has tested the new exercise equipment.

Norwegian expressionist painter Edvard Munch's "The Scream" was sold at Sotheby's in New York City for a total of US$119.9 million (NOK 690m) and has become the most expensive art work sold at an auction.

Bidding for the 1895 pastel began at around $50m, and lasted for just 12 minutes.

The work is one of four in a series by the Norwegian expressionist artist and was the only one still owned privately.

Thrown together for three days on the paradise island of Taveuni, a lonely Norwegian biologist, a bereaved English novelist, and a strange and beautiful Spanish couple so much in love they seem to have evolved a private language, fill the long Pacific nights by playing bridge, telling stories, and discussing ideas. This brief encounter is no mere interlude, but the start of an intertwined story, full of illusion and allusion, that will unfold many months later. Part tragedy, part mystery, and, above all, a love story, Maya debates and unravels the questions that give meaning to the lives of its

Norway's Statoil and Russia's Rosneft have signed a cooperation agreement. The companies have agreed to jointly explore offshore frontier areas of Russia and Norway and to conduct joint technical studies on two onshore Russian assets.

The agreement also envisages Rosneft’s acquisition of participating interests in selected Statoil projects.

Rosneft president Eduard Khudainatov and Statoil president and CEO Helge Lund signed the agreement, in the presence of the President-elect of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin.

“This cooperation agreement is an important milestone in Statoil’s exploration activity in Russia. The agreement secures a long term collaborative

In 2011, more than 236,000 people visited Nordkapp (The North Cape in Norway) - the most Northern point on the European continent.

The famous coastal cruise liner Hurtigruten, a cruise along the Norwegian coast, reports that their trips to Nordkapp have never been more popular. In 2011 a total of almost 57,000 passengers signed up to visit Nordkapp, a point located only 2,100 kilometers from the North Pole.

Foto: HUGH GENTRY/Reuters

Suzann Pettersen's among the leaders halfway through the
Brazil Cup in golf.

Suzann Pettersen did the first round in Brazil Cup in five
strokes under par and is two strokes behind the leaders in Rio.

The Norwegian golf star did birdie on five of the first nine
holes. Then it became tougher. In the last nine holes she
got birdie and bogey twice respectively.

On the Visit Norway's portal you can explore the
Geirangerfjord from home
Photo: Visitnorway.com

Norwegian tourism portal beat everyone in prestigious ranking, and VisitNorway can call themselves the world's best website.
The award was won in competition with 10,000 entries from 60 countries and 50 states in the United States.

Internet's Oscar
The website of Visit Norway, Norway's largest travel portal, has won the prestigious Webby Awards.

The Webby Awards is an award ceremony to technology and internet related products.

This dish takes less than 30 minutes to prepare, and serves 4 people.

A unique collection of famous Norwegian painter Edvard Munch’s works from both Norway and abroad will be collected and displayed in Oslo early next year.

The exhibition aims to be the biggest and best Munch exhibition in history, but still lacks all the necessary financing.

"This will be the only chance in our lifetime to see this many of Edvard Munch’s works in one city," Ingebjørg Ydstie, the curator for the exhibition, tells NRK.

English and German pilots shoot each other down, and later find themselves at the same cabin. In order to survive the tough winter in the Norwegian wilderness they have to stand together. It's the start of a long and unlikely friendship.

The main parts of the new Norwegian war film "Into the White" was shot at Grotli in the Stryn mountains in Western Norway. Therefore, it was no surprise that the pre-screening took place at Stryn’s cultural centre.

"Into the White" attracted both local celebrities as well as other famous Norwegians. "Spectacular film!" seemed to be the reaction from most people as they left the much-anticipated screening.

In this book about the wonder of life by the author of Sophie's World, eight-year-old Joe is about to become a big brother. His mother is in labour at the hospital when he looks outside and sees a little boy hanging upside down in an apple tree. It's Mika, who has just fallen out of a spaceship. Mika is from Eljo, where children hatch out of eggs and life in general is quite different from what Joe knows. Mika and Joe become instant friends and spend the day discussing everything from dinosaurs and gravity to the origins of life on Earth. The next morning Mika is gone, but Joe has a new-found appreciation for the wonders of the universe--and a baby brother! Illustrated with whimsical line drawings--and framed by thought-provoking questions: "Can animals think?"; "what would you say if you had a visit from another planet?"--Hello? Is Anybody There? challenges readers to look at the world afresh, much in the manner of The Little Prince.

NRK

Anne Lindboe was on Friday presented as a new ombudsman.
Among the 76 applicants Dr. Anne Lindboe got the job as the new ombudsman. She was the children's personal favorite.
10 children and young people have been involved in the process of finding the new mbudsman. It has never happened before. When the new ombudsman was presented by the Minister of Children, Equality and Inclusion, Inga Marte Thorkildsen, on Friday morning, Lindboe used this opportunity to thank the children.
- I will do everything I can to stand in for you 24 hours a day. I

Photo: NICOLAS AGUILERA/Ap

The Norwegian got right in the lead on Thursday's only specialized test and continued the victory hunt in Argentina on Friday morning.

The Norwegian was narrowly beaten by reigning world champion Sebastien Loeb on Friday's first race. Then Solberg won the speedtest of Friday's longest test (51.88 km).

Photo: Patrycja Mic

On April 24th 'Norway Inspires' and Teatr Na Woli organised together a Norwegian Cultural Evening in Teatr na Woli.

Two plays by Jon Fosse

Two of Jon Fosse's plays were performed; "Matka i dziecko" and "Letni dzien".

Minimum use of words and perfect performance from the actors sums up the play.

The plays were directed by Izabela Cywinska.

Norway's swimming ace Alexander Dale Oen who has been suffering from an infection in a shoulder, is now back to near normal form after a high altitude training session in the US.

He is now ready to participate in several competitions in May and June, in preparation for the London Olympic games.

Source: Aftenposten

Jostein Gaarder; The Ringmaster's daughter

Panina Manina, a trapeze artist, falls and breaks her neck. As the ringmaster bends over her, he sees around her neck an amber charm—just like the one he gave his own child before she was swept away in a torrent 16 years earlier. This tale is narrated by Petter, a precocious child and a fantasist, and perhaps Jostein Gaarder’s most intriguing creation since Sophie. Petter makes his living selling stories and ideas to authors suffering from writer’s block. It’s a lucrative trade, but as he sits like a spider in the center of his web, Petter finds himself in a trap

Easy grilled Norwegian Salmon topped with a savory Dijon-maple glaze

The eleventh novel, eighteenth book is a portrait of an aging intellectual, Bjorn Hansen, who has been living with a sense of randomness, mismatches and boredom, untill he decides to take drastic measures to remedy this. He leaves a wife and small child, together with his mistress, to move from Oslo to Kongsberg, the provinces, where he intends to start a new life. But what he encounters, does not meet his expectations. Hansen increasingly moves away from society, devoting himself to gradually thinking of an eccentric experiment. Under the influence of a vague impulse, with the help of a local physician, Dr. Schiøtz, he simulates a car accident in Lithuania. Quite healthily he sits in a wheelchair, determined to spend the rest of his life this way, resulting in a dangerous game with himself and with society, which he has lied to. What directs the experimenter? What directs the doctor, the occult drug addict when he decides to help in this hoax?

Kurt is a forklift driver. He rides daily on the wharf and puts boxes weighing over 1,000 pounds. Kurt also has a mustache, is married to Anna-Lisa, and is a father of three amazing children: Lean Helen, Bubbly Kurt and Buda.

One day Kurt sees something on the waterfront. He sees something he has never seen before, something really big.

What did Kurt see by on the waterfront and what happened next? The extraordinary adventures of Kurt and his extraordinary family, you can read about in the bestselling novel by Erlend Loe "Kurt and the fish" - the book has been translated into 17 languages. In many countries, Kurt has become a cult figure among younger and older readers. Now you can also get to know Kurt and his family.

"It's night. Tom, a little boy, is sitting in his cot, and wonders what his dad does this time. Ponders how it was when my dad was little, what would happen if the father was now with him. Surely it would be great, because my dad is very nice, brave, is awfully good, and even higher than the King, well and he has great boots and tape recorders. Maybe dad is also looking at the moon right now, if so, they are looking at the same. "
This is a great story about a boy who longs for his beloved father, and through different situations portrays him as an ideal father, a true hero of the tale. The story of the deepest dreams, longings and desires of the child, with masterful illustrations of the author.
The book has won the hearts of small readers and their parents in many countries, and it has been translated, among

Linn Ullmann is one of the attractions at this year's event
Photo: Francois Guillot/Afp

The diversity is what is emphasized when the application to the Norwegian Festival of Literature was published today. The program tries to reach more than it has done before.On May 29th the 18th edition of the Norwegian Festival of Literature starts at Lillehammer. Both Linn Ullmann, Tomas Espedal and Anne Krigsvoll will take part in the grand opening performance.- This year's show is bigger than it has ever been before. Particularly with regard to this year's theme, we have expanded the picture of what a literary festival can be, says festival director Marit Hagen Borken.

Hobby fishing - a world record?

Hobby fishing guide Wolfgang Gõtz from Germany made a record catch off the Trøndelag coast the other day, when he pulled in a ling which weighed 46.7 kilos and measured 182 cm in length.

It also measured 94 cm around the belly. It took Gõtz 30 minutes to get it onboard. He isn't telling where he made the catch.

The catch has already been declared a Norwegian record, but may take a while to be recognised as a world record, VG reports.

The ling (Molva molva in Latin), belongs to the cod family and is found in the deep sea waters of Northern Europe.

Source: VG

"Skarverennet" ends skiing season

Saturday's "Skarverennet", the annual cross country ski-touring race with 12,220 participants in the Hallingskarvet mountains is often said to mark the end of the skiing season in Norway.

The event is an open event in terms of skill and shape level and it is not necessary to be very fit. It is enough to be just an average ski tourist. In the just over 38 kilometers from Finse to Ustaoset an average skier will use approximately 4-5 hours.

Ice Hockey: Norway - France 3-4

Norway national icehockey team met tougher opposition in their second friendly against France, and lost 3-4 at Jordal Amfi in Oslo on Saturday.

On Friday Norway defeated France 6-3.

The matches are part of Norway's preparations for the upcoming World Championships which start on May 4th.

Source: NRK

For children about depression - the book "Mummy's hair"

When the hair takes over
Author Gro Dahle and illustrator Svein Nyhus has over the years illustrated children's feelings with great insight and originality. In "The greedy kid" the daughter eats all the family members before she cracks, and learns the art of limitation. "Behind Mumme live Moni" shows children's overwhelming rage as seen from the inside, whereas in "Kind" Lussi found that no one sees, until she learns to loudly demand her rights from parents and teachers. The pair's most recent book is about depression and how it is perceived by the child's point of view when the mother is not able to be a mother. Mom's hair is a bit painful reading, but in the good way.

The book has been published in Polish by EneDueRabe - Wlosy Mamy

What is it mom?
Emma has the world's finest and prettiest mom. With hair that shines in the sun. But sometimes her mom just lies on the couch and does nothing. And then mom can not help with anything. She cannot even prepare a sandwich!

www.arkitektur.no

The Russian architecture magazine Project_International (Pi) has recently published a special edition of Norwegian contemporary architecture in Russian.Pi is an international edition of the Russian architecture journal Project Russia. - In the journal's ten-year history, they have only once previously published a national number, which was dedicated to Dutch architecture.The reason that they have created a Norwegian number is that Norwegian architecture has achieved high acclaim internationally, "which is no small feat for a country with a population of less than five million, which until not long ago had only one world-renowned architect - Sverre Fehn. "

For more information about the event please click here

Ice Hockey: Convincing win against France

The

norwegian national icehockey team dominated the friendly match against France at times on Friday, and in the end won 6-3 at Jordal Amfi in Oslo.

The match was part of Norway's preparations for the upcoming World Championships which start on May 4th.

Source: NRK

Self-defeating kind children

Lussi is so kind, so kind. So kind that one day she disappears.

And not just a little bit, but quite far away away away away away. In fact, all the way into the walls away. Lussi is so quiet and kind and good and pure and beautiful that no one sees her anymore. No mother, no father, not the teacher nor the other children. Not even the great caretaker can find her ...

Kind is a new winning project from the artist couple Gro Dahle and Svein Nyhus. A cheerful, poetic and noisy book that young children will easily understand and empathize with, while older children and adults will also see the symbolism and message of the text.

Contemplating existential questions is a common thread linking all of Jostein Gaarder's works, and his treatment of universal topics engages readers of all ages. Now, to mark that 20 years have passed since Gaarder made his debut as a writer of fiction, Aschehoug Publishing House has asked him to assemble a book of some of the highlights of his authorship.

Checkmate is a collection of riddles, fairy-tales and stories that demonstrates just why Jostein Gaarder's books are read all over the world. It reveals the depth and originality of books such as The Diagnosis, The Solitaire Mystery, Sophie's World, The Christmas Mystery, Through a Glass, Darkly, Vita Brevis, Maya, The Ringmaster's Daughter and The Orange Girl. In addition there is a newly written essay entitled Is consciousness a cosmic coincidence?.

For readers who are new to Jostein Gaarder Checkmate can be read as an introduction to his authorship; for all those who have already been enriched and enthused by Gaarder's literary universe it will shed new light on familiar passages.

Jostein Gaarder's books have sold an incredible 40 million

Welcome to the sixth Anniversary of Zoozanko - School of Languages and the opening of the Norwegian language on Saturday 21 April 2012 at 14.00 - 17.00. Zoozanko is located at ul. Yan 2 lok. 1 (3 minutes from the Metro station Służew)

The program includes:
• slideshow with motives from Norway by Isabella Krepsztul Fri; "Winter in the North, summer in the South",
• Competition with prizes

www.wikipedia.org

www.musicrooms.net

Röyksopp is a Norwegian electronic music duo from Tromsø, formed in 1998. Since their inception, the band's line-up has included Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland.

The two experimented with various forms of electronic music, and bought a drum machine together during the Tromsø techno scene before going their separate ways. Several years later, the two met up again and formed Röyksopp during the Bergen Wave.

"Vacation in Norway" is a story of a country, which I have discovered many times and in many ways - with my friends, with my children and on my own. It is a subjective guide of places, which - in my opinion - are worth seeing, a story of recognized Norwegians, history of the country, its dishes that are worth trying. Most of all, I would like to convince my readers that Norway is a fascinating country and a wonderful holiday destination.

My first trip to Norway was with a bunch of friends, when I was still a university student. We travelled through the entire country. We reached the North Cape (Nordkapp), and when we stood on the edge of the cliff, which is often referred to (wrongly, in fact), as the northernmost point of Europe - on one hand, we were very happy to have reached the destination, on the other -

Roger Brown has it all. He has a beautiful wife and a mistress who is crazy about him for a start. He lives in a stunning home in Oslo and is an elite corporate headhunter.
Don’t ever apply for a job, he tells executives who apply for a job. It dilutes your appeal. In his Savile Row suits, Roger appears to be a master of the universe — or at least a distant relative of Christopher Walken, which is almost the same thing.
The only cloud scudding across his horizon is that he would like to be taller. But that’s no biggie, if you will excuse the tiny pun.

Destination Røros, Norway has been awarded the prestigious 2012 Tourism for Tomorrow Award, in competition with the two other finalists, the Misool Eco Resort, Indonesia and Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau, Japan.

The prize was awarded during the WTTC's annual meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday.

The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are organised by the World Travel & Tourism Council, with the support of its strategic partners

Simple grilled Norwegian Salmon served with a blend of balsamic and herb–marinated eggplant, zucchini and red bell peppers.

An increasing number of both locals and tourists find their way to the exceptional surfing conditions on the West coast of Norway.

Many surfers travel around the world looking for the best wave. Now some of them have found exactly what they are looking for in Hoddevik, a bay in Sogn and Fjordane on the West coast of Norway.

"I came here with very high expectations, but it was even better than I thought it would be," Lars Musschoot from Belgium told NRK. Musschoot had read about the newly discovered surfer’s Mecca online.

Fot. Per Eide

Fiordy.com invites you to visit Norway and see it’s most beautiful sites.

You can join one of our organised trips: the nearest one starts already on April 30th and will take you for several days to the spectacular and breathtaking Norwegian fiords on the West coast.

Or maybe you want to experience the arctic world of Lofoten Islands and North Cape during the time of solar solstice in our hemisphere, when the sun doesn’t set?

An exhibition of contemporary Norwegian architecture organised by RIBA is taking place 12 April 2012 - 15 June 2012 at Gallery Two and Florence Hall, RIBA in London.

Landscape and Intervention by Reiulf Ramstad and Jensen & Skodvin
Reiulf Ramstad Architects and Jensen & Skodvin Architects are two of the most high-profile and innovative practices based in Norway.
This exhibition explores their work, through a unique collection of richly detailed models and images, highlighting rural contemporary Norwegian architecture through the National Tourist Routes scheme and more.
A selection of Tourist Routes projects - completed across the country - are displayed by each practice, in addition to a range of other buildings that have been undertaken, including housing and public works.

Joachim Trier launches his latest film in New York

The award-winning Norwegian director Joachim Trier is in New York for the screening of his latest film Oslo, 31. August at the festival New Directors, New Films.

Oslo, 31. August has been selected as one of several films that will screen in New York Wednesday and Thursday, and the Norwegian director has already received a warm welcome

For the first time ever, a Norwegian film was at the very top of the sales list for DVD/Blue-ray in the U.K. last week. The Troll Hunter (Trolljegeren) sold more than 35,000 copies in only a few days.

It is sensational that a Norwegian film is at the top of the sales chart for DVD/Blue-ray in the U.K," producer John M. Jacobsen tells NRK. He also thinks it is a sensation that a film with subtitles
has been able to climb to the very top of the list.

"We are happy and proud that with this, yet another milestone has been achieved for Norwegian film abroad," Jacobsen stated in a press release.

The only privately-owned version of Edvard Munch's masterpiece 'The Scream' is going on display in London, ahead of the sale by Sotheby's in New York in May.

Experts are predicting that the work, which is one of four versions of the painting created in the 1890s, could fetch $80m (£50m) at the auction.

Source: NRK/Aftenposten

Paceful resort 500 meters from Russia

Norway`s only restaurant and conference room in a modern "Gapahuk"? - Sollia Gjestegård is since 1999 run by the Nordhus family. They offer accomodation in cabins and annex with self household, half or full pension. The resort has 2 restaurants, relaxation area with massagebath/Jacuzzi and sauna, and a modern husky farm housing about 40 Alaskan husky sled-dogs. They offer daily safaris

Strony