Opheim, Berit

Berit Opheim is involved in a wide range of musical activities. She studied classical music at Bergen Conservatory of Music (now the Grieg Academy) and the Norwegian Academy of Music (1987-1992), and has gained a reputation as one of the most influential singers of traditional music (kvedar) in Norway. Her voice knows almost no limits, and during the past fifteen years she has performed on stages in Norway, Europe and Asia. Composer Lasse Thoresen wrote his work Løp, lokk og linjar, which had its world premiere at the Ultima Festival, for the ensemble BIT20 and Berit Opheim in 2000, and the work is to a large degree built around Berit Opheim’s voice. With her broad-ranging experience, she is in great demand for contemporary works that make use of microtonalities. She is a member of several ensembles, and has been engaged as a soloist in connection with folk, jazz and contemporary music performances. Opheim was a member of the group Orleysa (1989-1993) and Fantafylgje (1996-1998), and has participated in the BNB Trio since 1998. She has also toured extensively with Karl Seglem and Utla. In 2005 and 2006 she played the roles of Månefruva (Queen of the Night) and Fuglefenta (Papagena) in The Magic Flute – a Folk Opera, directed by Leif Stinnerbom. Opheim has qualified for the elite Category A in the National Contest for Traditional Music, where she won first prize in 1992, 1995 and 1996. In 2004 she competed as a soloist in the Open Category at the National Contest for Traditional Music, which is extremely unusual, and won first prize here, too, with an improvisation. This accomplishment was described afterwards as a groundbreaking event. Berit Opheim has worked mainly with folk music from the west coast of Norway and her home town of Voss. She has taught music at Norway’s major music institutions and has given lessons in traditional folk singing techniques for children and adults in Voss. In 2004 and 2005 she served as the official county musician for Hordaland. Thus far in 2007 she has released the recording Den blide sol together with Sigbjørn Apeland and has composed a commissioned work for the Vossa Jazz Festival, Ein engel går stilt, presented in March. In the course of the year she will also release her second solo recording, featuring vocal versions of fiddle tunes.

Discography

Norske Arvestykker, Bergen Domkantori (BDCD,1990); Orleysa, (Odin Records, 1991); Svanshornet, Orleysa (Odin Records, 1993); Rit, Karl Seglem (1994); Definitely Pling Plong (1995); Brodd, Utla (NORCD, 1995); Dåm, Oslo Kammerkor (KK, 1995); Eitt Steg, Berit Opheim (NORCD,1996): solo recording, nominated for a Spelemannspris (Norwegian Grammy) in 1997; Blå Harding, Nils Økland (Morild, 1996); Fryd, Einar Mjølsnes, Per Jørgensen, Sigbjørn Apeland, Bjørn Kjellemyr (Vossa Jazz Records, 1998); Folketonar frå Hordaland, Reidun Horvei (Det norske Samlaget, 1998); Spir, Karl Seglem (1998); Dedicaces, Gilles Obermayer (1998); Bergtatt, Oslo Kammerkor (KK, 1999): nominated for a Spelemannspris (Norwegian Grammy) in 2000; Syng, Småkvedarane (NORCD, 2000); Straum, Nils Økland (Rune Grammofon, 2000); Nye nord, Karl Seglem (NORCD, 2002); Skal/skal ikkje (Kvarts, 2003); Løp, lokk og linjar, (Lasse Thoresen) with BIT 20 (Aurora ACD, 2005); Ein song frå dei utsungne stunder, BNB Trio (2L, 2005); Den blide sol (NORCD, 2007)

Book

Solæ mi sela (1995-1996)

Awards

1994: Saga Award
2000: Consumer Co-operative Society Cultural Award
2003: Badnajazz Award
2004: Rolf Gammleng Award
2005: Vossa Jazz Award
2006: Government Grant for Artists

This biography was produced by the Norwegian Traditional Music Agency. Source: Norwegian biography by Music Information Centre Norway.