• Thursday, October 9 at 7 pm
  • South King County TBA
• Friday, October 10 at 7 pm
  • Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, Bellevue (map)
• Sunday, October 12 at 3 pm
  • Ballard First Lutheran Church, Seattle (map)

In collaboration with Puget Sound Concert Opera we will be commemorating Crossings 200 with performances of Seattle’s own Norwegian-American immigrant Gerard Tonning’s Norwegian-language opera Leif Erikson alongside F. Melius Christiansen’s Norwegian-American Centennial Cantata, reflecting on 200 years of Norwegian immigration to America.

Gerard Tonning composed Leif Erikson over a century ago and it has not been heard in nearly as long. We are excited to resurrect this beautiful work chronicling the adventures of Norway’s most famous adventurer. Our Composer-in-Residence Steven Luksan has spent years reconstructing this opera from fragments and manuscripts which had been stored in the basement of the University of Washington library. This will be sung in Norwegian and English with English spoken dialogue.

Founder of the Saint Olaf Choir, F. Melius Christiansen’s Norwegian-American Centennial Cantata was composed one-hundred years ago for the centennial of this same immigration celebration. We welcome singers from the community to join us in singing in the chorus of this monumental work. Don’t worry… this one is all in English. All voice types and experiences welcome.

Want to sing with us? Sign up here!

Rehearsals are at Ballard First Lutheran Church:

• Wednesday, September 24, 7-9 pm
• Monday, September 29, 7-9 pm
• Wednesday, October 1, 7-9 pm
• Sunday, October 5, 2-4 pm (required)
• Wednesday, October 7, 6:30-8 pm Dress Rehearsal (required)

Questions? Email info@nwegriegsociety.org or contact us here.

Featuring:

• Micah Parker, baritone as Leif Erikson
• Laura Loge, soprano as Gudrid
• Katie Stevenson, mezzo-soprano as Thorbjorg & Tyrker
• Terence Mejos, baritone as Halfred, Priest, and Cantata Soloist
• Karen Dunstan, soprano as Nun & Cantata Soloist
• John Burkhardt, piano
• The PSCO chorus and chamber ensemble,
• Scott Fikse, chorusmaster
• Steven Luksan, composer & arranger

This season is generously supported, in part, by 4Culture and the City of Bellevue. This concert is also supported by the Sons of Norway Foundation. Additionally, these concerts are supported through collaboration with the Puget Sound Concert Opera. We are grateful for their support and partnership.