Birth

:

January 26, 1931 in Oslo, Norway

Death

:

October 1, 2013 in Oslo, Norway

 

Kaare Ørnung was a Norwegian classical pianist and composer, born on August 22, 1927, in Oslo, Norway. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. His father, Eivind Ørnung, was a well-known pianist and composer, and his mother, Ingeborg Ørnung, was a singer. Kaare Ørnung began playing the piano at a young age and showed great talent and passion for music. He studied at the Oslo Conservatory of Music and later at the Juilliard School in New York City. He also studied with renowned pianists such as Robert Casadesus and Claudio Arrau. In 1951, Kaare Ørnung made his debut as a soloist with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4. This performance marked the beginning of his successful career as a concert pianist. He went on to perform with many other orchestras around the world, including the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic. Kaare Ørnung was known for his interpretations of the works of classical composers such as Beethoven, Mozart, and Chopin. He was also a champion of contemporary music and premiered many works by Norwegian composers such as Arne Nordheim and Finn Mortensen. In addition to his career as a pianist, Kaare Ørnung was also a composer. He wrote music for piano, chamber ensembles, and orchestra. His compositions were often inspired by Norwegian folk music and nature. Throughout his career, Kaare Ørnung received many awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 1961, he was awarded the Norwegian Music Critics' Prize for his interpretation of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5. He was also awarded the King's Medal of Merit in gold in 1997 for his contributions to Norwegian music. One of the highlights of Kaare Ørnung's career was his performance at the opening ceremony of the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. He performed Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Mariss Jansons. The performance was broadcast to millions of viewers around the world and received widespread acclaim. Kaare Ørnung continued to perform and compose music until his death on December 22, 2018, at the age of 91. He left behind a legacy as one of Norway's most celebrated classical musicians, known for his virtuosic piano playing and his contributions to Norwegian music.

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