Utzon Music 2025 Norwegian Tradition Reimagined

  • Classical Music
  • Utzon Room
  • Run time - 75 minutes

Polar night and midnight sun — in music

A rare chance to hear a Norwegian supergroup fusing traditional music and contemporary evocations of the north: Benedicte Maurseth, Morten Qvenild, Mats Eilertsen and Håkon Stene.

Hardanger fiddle is the soul of traditional Norwegian music.  Originally a seventeenth-century instrument, similarly sized to the violin, it has eight strings, four of which are ‘sympathetic’, creating extra resonance and possibilities for chordal playing.  Benedicte Maurseth is the hardanger fiddle’s great contemporary player. She’s steeped in folkloric traditions, and a distinguished composer, recently commissioned by Kronos Quartet among others.  This performance celebrates her new album, Mirra, created in amazing musical company, with Morten Qvenild, Mats Eilertsen and Håkon Stene. Inspired by the country of her childhood — way up north in the Norwegian mountains and higher still onto the plateaus — sounds and survival patterns of reindeer have been central to Benedicte’s haunting new music, wrapped around age-old traditional tunes.

This performance is made possible with the support of Bundanon.

Presented by Sydney Opera House

Event details

It’s Maurseth, embracing the past and touching the ground that has formed who she is. The result is gently majestic.

Roots World

Artist information

Benedicte Maurseth
hardanger fiddle

Morten Qvenild
piano

Mats Eilertsen
bass

Håkon Stene
percussion

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Attending this event

Plan your visit

Address

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Getting to the venue

The Opera House is a 7-10 minute walk from Circular Quay, and is easily accessible by car, train, ferry, lightrail, bus, bike and on foot.

Location and access

Utzon Room

The Utzon Room is located on the Eastern side of the Opera House, in front of the Joan Sutherland Theatre. Best accessed through the Box Office Foyer or the Covered Concourse. All Sydney Opera House foyers are accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators).

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