No audience showed up - article on rb.nett, 27.11.2020

Maria, Alexander and Rune sang
 for an empty church

Author and photos: Hugo Tingvoll | Source: Romsdals Budstikke (site) - in Norwegian (text) | 27.11.2020 | Translated by Mónika Menyhért

All 50 tickets for the evening concert with Alexander Rybak, Rune Larsen and Maria Haukaas Mittet were sold. A mistake by the organizer caused that none of the buyers showed up in Molde Cathedral.

Christmas mood in corona time: This year's Stille Natt  Hellige Natt concert tourin Molde Cathedral became the most special since the start 32 years ago. Alexander Rybak, Ingrid Berg Mehus, Maria Haukaas Mittet, Hans Marius Hoff Mittet, Rune Larsen, Tove Kragset and Bernt Rune Stray experienced that the other of the two concerts was performed almost without the audience. 

According to the plan, Friday's evening concert of the production Stille Natt Hellige Natt was to be carried out with 50 in Molde Cathedral as the regulations allow. That was not the case. Instead, it was a very special concert for the six or seven people present.

Empty cathedral Friday at 20 when the sold-out celebrity concert was to start. The organizer takes on the responsibility. The wrong e-mail was sent to the fifty who were actually supposed to experience this year's Stille Natt Hellige Natt concert tour.

Even with as many musicians as the audience in the mighty cathedral, it was never an option for Rune Larsen, Maria Haukaas Mittet, Alexander Rybak and the four other musicians to cancel.

The musicians impressed
Marita Villa was among the lucky ones. Even without a ticket, she chose to travel from Vikebukt to Molde.

- I was not among the fifty, but still went in the hope that some of those with a ticket would not show up. I am very, very happy that I got to experience this, she says.

Violinists who are sparkling: Alexander Rybak both sings and plays. He has known Ingrid Berg Mehus ever since they started studying the violin together.

It was quite special with a concert without the audience, but the experience was just as strong nonetheless, she thinks.

- I was here last year and wanted to see the concert again this year. It's amazing how the musicians performed without the audience. I'm very impressed. The concert was a fantastic experience, says a very satisfied Marita Villa.

Took holiday
For Mari Vattøy, Friday was different. She had planned to take the trip all the way from Surnadal to get to the concert. There were places with her name in the church, but they were left empty.
- This was something we had been looking forward to. There is not much to look forward to on the concert front at the moment. I had taken a holiday to avoid stress, she says.
Others in the family had done the same. The plan was for her to go with mother, daughter, sister and two nieces. Last Monday, she began calling for answers.
- I thought it was strange that I had not heard anything. I sent a message via the concert's Facebook group. Pretty immediately I got an email from the organizer. Taran AS wrote that I was unfortunately not among the fifty. A little later that day, the same email came again. Afterwards, it is annoying to hear that there was a reserved place for us in the church, she says.

Instead of a concert and a trip to Molde, it was a mountain trip in fine weather, says Mari Vattøy, who works daily at Surnadal upper secondary school.

- I thought it was strange that I had not heard anything. I sent a message via the concert's Facebook group. Pretty immediately I got an email from the organizer. Taran AS wrote that I was unfortunately not among the fifty. A little later that day, the same email came again. In retrospect, it is annoying to hear that there was a reserved place for us in the church, she says.
Instead of a concert and a trip to Molde, it was a mountain trip in fine weather, says Mari Vattøy, who works daily at Surnadal upper secondary school.

Desperate organizer

Tor Arne Ranghus in Taran AS has worked as a producer for Stille Natt Hellige Natt councert tour ever since the first concert was arranged 32 years ago. The experienced organizer says that in these times where little is normal, most things are extra demanding.

- I am deeply sorry for the fifty who did not get to experience the concert. I understand their irritation when they hear that their seats were empty, he says.

They have now double-checked everything that can be double-checked. It turns out that the wrong e-mail was sent to the fifty who were supposed to attend the concert. Instead of telling them that they were among the lucky ones, they were told the opposite.
- I do not want to blame anyone. This is a mistake that unfortunately should not have happened. We are now reviewing all the lists to avoid that something similar could happen on the rest of the tour.
Ranghus states that those who bought a ticket can either get their money back or use the ticket next year.

Before Molde, only concerts were held in Trondheim. Until 22 December, a total of 22 churches will be visited. 
Friday's first concert in Molde Cathedral at 5 pm was carried out as planned with 50 spectators present.

Focus on the audience

Neither Rune Larsen nor Maria Haukaas Mittet want to comment on the almost empty cathedral. On the other hand, they agree that it is always a matter of performing to the maximum regardless of the number of spectators.

- We want those who come to have a good time. That's our job. But I still have to admit that this is special. We have been used to 3-400 hundred people at the concerts, and then there is only an opportunity for fifty now, says Rune Larsen (72).

Once again in Molde: For Rune Larsen, Molde Cathedral is important. He especially remembers the episode with his daughter 37 years ago when an unplanned comment from her made the audience laugh.

For him, Molde Cathedral is a special church. When he was here 37 years ago, the church was packed.

- I remember we talked about security, and my daughter Tonje, who was four years old at that time, was also there. I held her too hard, so when I asked what you become when I hold you like that, she did not answer that she felt safe, as planned. Instead, she replied, "I will be choked," to the great joy of all in the church.

- Mighty Christmas hymn
- Rune should have a lot of credit for Trygve Hoff's songs becoming so important to me and many others, says Maria Haukaas Mittet.

Christmas mood from the north: Hardly anyone lifts up Trygve Hoff's beloved songs about Christmas and dark time as Maria Haukaas Mittet. Duet with husband Hans Marius Hoff Mittet is also part of this year's tour which takes place in 22 churches to Christmas.

- He directed a Christmas broadcast on TV when I was 12 years old. I had been in the musical "Annie". Rune wanted me to perform the north Norwegian Christmas hymn. Since then, that song has always been with me, says the singer who on the Christmas tour also sings mightily with her husband.

PS: Everyone involved in Friday's concert will receive 70 percent salary and income compared to what they would normally receive. It is the current compensation scheme that means that musicians, technical crew and Molde Cathedral as the venue owners are remunerated in such a way in connection with the corona crisis.

(The translator of this article is not native either in the Norwegian or the English language, so any correction is welcomed and appreciated.)