Alexander Rybak celebrated 10-year-anniversary as an artist with the "Entertainer" summer show, July 2016
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It was in 2006 when Alexander won the musical talent show “Kjempesjansen” ("The Big Opportunity", actually Norway's Got Talent) on the channel NRK (Norwegian national broadcaster) with his own jazzy composition “Foolin'”. That was when his extraordinary career began.
So in 2016, he celebrated his 10-year-anniversary as an artist, with his "Entertainer" summer show with his dancer and singer colleagues Heidi Ruud Ellingsen and Sofie Bjerketvedt, in 5 shows, on the 6th, 13th,15th and 20th-22th July 2016 in Bølgen Kulturhus, Larvik, Norway.
Inviting fans to the show
in social media -->
So in 2016, he celebrated his 10-year-anniversary as an artist, with his "Entertainer" summer show with his dancer and singer colleagues Heidi Ruud Ellingsen and Sofie Bjerketvedt, in 5 shows, on the 6th, 13th,15th and 20th-22th July 2016 in Bølgen Kulturhus, Larvik, Norway.
Orchestra conductor: Knut Bjørnar Asphol
Costumes: Cårejånni Enderud
Producer: Taran, by Tor Arne Ranghus |
Alexander Rybak | Instagram
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Inviting fans to the show
in social media -->
His Facebook-post from a rehearsal in June
Interview with Alexander in the preparation phase
in the local paper Østlands-Posten | NO
Fairytale-Rybak chooses Bølgen
Published: 3.7.2016. | Text and photos: Nils-Erik Kvamme
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| Chooses Bølgen: Sofie Bjerketvedt, Alexander Rybak, Øystein Lund Olafsen and Heidi Ruud Ellingsen feel happy in Bølgen. The summer show premieres on Wednesday. |
The lighting has been set, the orchestra on place, Øystein Lund Olafsen seems to have complete control overh notes and entrances, and the main person in the summer show is happy to be back in Larvik.
– I have many memories from Larvik. My father and I played in Bøkeskogen (a place with stage for performace purposes - t.n.) when I was 10* and later I have returned every year, says the clearest winner of al time in of Eurovision Song Contest.
* referring to the times when he was wandering and playing with his father over Norway,read more about it HERE (t.n.)
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| Rehearsing: He is the composer of some big hits, the young Alexander Rybak. Now he will show his full repertoire on the stage in Bølgen. |
Never gets bored
That was in 2009. Since then many have tried with summer shows in Bølgen with more or less luck.
– I can promise that the audience will not get bored, says Alexander Rybak, and promises many known and "reunion" with songs from 10 years in the limelight.
– Both laughter and tears. Maybe I can call it a little summary of my career, says Rybak and points out the other soloists and dancers, Heidi Ruud Ellingsen and Sofie Bjerketvedt.
Øystein at the grand piano
– And not at least the pianist Øystein Lund Olafsen, who I always need to have with me, he adds.
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| In place: Many choose Øystein Lund Olafsen as their musical leader. Rybak too. |
In addition, the show is spiced with exciting suprises where Rybak and the ladies offer big band, classical favourites, known folk tunes in addition to his own pop music. Everything performed with humour and energy.
The best of many
– We have chosen the best from every genre and connected the songs to small stories and gags, says Heidi Ruud Ellingsen who has known him through all these 10 years.
– We met in “Spelemann på taket” (theater play "Fiddler on the Roof") in 2007, and after that I won NRK’s "Drømmerollen" (“Dream role”) and got the role of “Kathy” in the “Singin’ in the rain”, says Ellingsen, who promises both dancing, tap-dancing and singing in the summer show.
Sofie Bjerketvedt is maybe more unknown.
– Deeply undeserved, says Rybak, who promises that after this summer’s Bølgen-show everyone in Larvik will know who Sofie is.
– I was in “Kjempesjansen” with Dan Børge at the same time as Alexander and then everyone of course knows that I didn’t win, says Bjerketvedt.
Won competitions
Some years later she went right to the top in the show “Grease” on TVNorge, and by that got the honour of playing Sandy in the show in Oslo Spektrum in 2008. The year after she also took part in the “Mamma Mia” show in Folketeateret in Oslo.
They are all excited about Larvik’s culture house, and point out the close connection with the audience as an advantage.
– I like that the audience looks down on me, giggles Rybak, who together with his close friends promises to deliver the goods with charm, warmth and lots of energy.
Johan Osuldsen is the director and the show premieres on Wednesday the 6th and is being played on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday the following weeks.
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The artists and the director Johan Osuldsen were interviewed on NRK P1 radio on June 8th 2016.
Listen to the radio interview --> HERE in English,
and here with Hungarian translation / magyar felirattal
--> ITT
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Review 1 
Østlands-Posten | NO
Østlands-Posten | NO
Fairytale-Rybak delivers class!
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| Show: Alexander Rybak, here with Heidi Ruud Ellingsen, showed during the premiere of the summer show in Bølgen on Wednesday what a talented entertainer he is. |
With a leisurely, slightly unpretentious style, Alexander Rybak charmed the premiere audience in Bølgen. This boy can do more than write good songs.
It is possible I did not have all the world's hopes for a young boy who comes to Larvik to show what he has done during his 10 years as an artist. But damn, what a charm! With an appearance as a mixture of a lucky troll and Titten Tei, he strolls through the performance with a loose lightness as if he were at home in our living room.
Maybe he does not have the best singing voice in the world, maybe it is not a coincidence that the man does not have to dance. But what a violinist, what a wonderfully amazing style and what a songwriter! For Wednesday's premiere, he served up his newly written song; "I came to love you", a beautiful song for everyone who still believes in love.
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| Alexander Rybak, Heidi Ruud Ellingsen and Sofie Bjerkeseth will play in Bølgen three weeks ahead. |
Versatility
Rybak is primarily associated with his adventure in the Eurovision Song Contest, but here he shows off all his musical sides that range from jazz, via rock and folk music to classical violin virtuosity.
From the wildest waterfalls, he brings us down to the summer and intersects with Mats Paulson's "Visa vid vindens ängar". He excels on the violin and reveals that his father's advice that "if you practice enough, one day you can stand in front of a large audience in Larvik and perform" worked.
But he is not alone.
Personal interpretations
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| Alexander Rybak, Heidi Ruud Ellingsen and Sofie Bjerkeseth shone during Wednesday's premiere. |
Musical stars Heidi Ruud Ellingsen and Sofie Bjerketvedt use their chances with devilish effort, musical precision and touching personal interpretations, first and foremost in Rybak's "Thirteen Horses" and Sigvart Dagsland's "Kan eg gjør noge med det" ("Can I do something about it").
I must also point out the boy at the keys, Øystein Lund Olafsen, who once again impresses with his masterful piano playing. The duet with Rybak in "Danse of the Goblins" by Bazzini is dazzling. Four winds in the band do the trick, and funny, non-conventional tricks in both "Fever" and "Spelemann på taket" (Fiddler on the Roof) pull the performance far beyond mediocre.
So there is every reason to set aside an hour and a half in Bølgen this summer!
Review 2 Aftenposten | NO
Author: Mona Levin | Published: July 7, 2016 | Photos: Anita S. Andersen
Alexander Rybak is a real entertainer
Alexander Rybak is a true entertainer who treats the audience as adroitly as he treats his violin, his crooner voice and his grand piano.
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| Our reviewer gets excited about Alexander Rybak's 10-year anniversary show. |
As a 20-year-old, Alexander Rybak won Kjempesjansen with his own song "Foolin'". Now he begins his 10-year anniversary show with exactlyt that, and shows that he has become exactly what he to the surprise of many wanted to be: Entertainer!
Shouldn't he become a violinist with his classical education and talent, then? Yeah. And alas. Rybak is a violinist with a highly developed entertainer gene.
Now he is celebrating his ten artist years, flanked by Heidi Ruud Ellingsen and Sofie Bjerketvedt, with an 8-man orchestra in a lavish show, and with an impressive number of own songs. The latest is purchased by Dreamworks for "How to Train Your Dragon 3".
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| Rybak brings with him Heidi Ruud Ellingsen (right) Sofie Bjerketvedt and an eight-man orchestra in Bølgen in Larvik. |
The beginning sets the mood: the musicians make their entrance to a drum solo, before they, under the direction of Knut Bjørnar Asphol, throw themselves into the most wonderful big band sounds, but also offer sensitive pieces of individual instruments.
Through the subsequent medley, Rybak shows his versatility, but this is not some numbers show. It shows the way from reality to realities, at a high pace and thoughtful transitions, and without boring interludes.
Director Johan Osuldsen wants to tell a story, and it is about three prominent artists who have emerged through talent competitions in television. Then you can think what you want about it, but these three are probably born to stage: they knew from early childhood what they wanted, have invested everything in it and reached their goals.
Rybak shares the space generously with the others, but he himself is naturally standing in the center. He is much more relaxed than ten years ago, of course, feels safer and not so much in his hair. He covers musical styles from sad Belarusian lullabies to Elvis, from «Det er lov å være bli’» to virtuoso string technique - without major problems.
Power and energy
Versatility also characterizes Heidi and Sofie. Heidi tap-dances so you almost worry about the baby in her womb. Her "The Man That Got Away", almost in a blues arrangement, is a highlight, surpassed only by her "Thirteen Horses" (by Rybak) - a drama of a song. Sofie makes a big effort with «Artistklemma».
Energy is characteristic of the whole show. Sometimes there is so much singing energy and impact that the lyrics lose content and meaning, as in Ellingsens and Bjerketvedt's almost unrecognizable duet from "West Side Story". If this is due to a blurry sound, it can be easily cleaned up. If due to diction, it can also be cleaned up - but not quite as easily. Nice light all the way.
The review is written on the basis of the dress rehearsal, maybe everything was perfect at the premiere.
.... and another post of him before the last show:
(The articles are translated from Norwegian to English by someone who is not native in either of these languages, so any correction is welcomed and appreciated.)
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| "I'm not the type to go crazy" - Interview with Alexander Rybak in Dagsavisen, 27.6.2016 |
Read the interview --> HERE
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