THE AUDIENCE, wrapped up in thick coats and hats, sits huddled together in a small amphitheatre dug out of the snow. The event is not accessible by car, so they have all arrived by train at Finse, Norway’s highest railway station, 1,222 metres above sea level. On a clear day it is possible to see the Hardangerjokulen glacier, one of the largest in the country. But in February, the weather in Finse is changeable.
The festival was founded by Terje Isungset, a percussionist who is the world specialist in ice music—a concept he came up with 20 years ago. Ice which is made artificially in a freezer, Mr Isungset explains, “has no sonic possibilities”. At this year’s event, which ran from February 7th to 9th, guests enjoyed six concerts. For reasons of comfort, the performances do not last longer than an hour; visitors retreat to a nearby hotel in between shows. The musicians often opt for pieces that engage with the unusual landscape. Accompanied by the ice trumpet and ice horn, Arve Henriksen entertained the crowd with improvised lyrics about his trip to Finse and climate-change scientists.
dotMudge
wow such a wonderful festival😍😍😍
How is this a thing we’re having to tell grown adults in 2020