Role

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Conductor  

 

Kjetil Almenning is a Norwegian classical pianist who has gained international recognition for his virtuosic performances and musical interpretations. Born on May 22, 1985, in Bergen, Norway, Almenning showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of six. He was encouraged by his parents, who were both amateur musicians, and received his first formal piano lessons from his mother. Almenning's talent and dedication to music quickly became apparent, and he began to win local and regional competitions. At the age of 12, he was accepted into the Bergen Conservatory of Music, where he studied with renowned pianist Einar Steen-Nøkleberg. Almenning's musical abilities continued to flourish under Steen-Nøkleberg's tutelage, and he went on to study at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, where he earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in piano performance. Throughout his studies, Almenning participated in numerous competitions and festivals, both in Norway and abroad. In 2006, he won first prize in the Norwegian National Piano Competition, and in 2008, he was a finalist in the prestigious International Edvard Grieg Piano Competition. He also received scholarships from the Norwegian government and the Norwegian Academy of Music, which allowed him to study with renowned pianists such as Leif Ove Andsnes and Murray Perahia. Almenning's career as a professional pianist began to take off in the early 2010s, when he won several international competitions and began to perform regularly in Europe and Asia. In 2011, he won first prize in the International Piano Competition in San Marino, and in 2012, he was a finalist in the International Franz Liszt Piano Competition in Utrecht. He also performed as a soloist with several orchestras, including the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and the Norwegian Radio Orchestra. One of Almenning's most notable performances took place in 2013, when he performed Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of conductor Vasily Petrenko. The performance was widely praised for Almenning's technical skill and musical sensitivity, and it helped to establish him as one of Norway's leading classical pianists. In addition to his performances as a soloist, Almenning is also an active chamber musician and collaborates regularly with other musicians. He has performed with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, the Oslo String Quartet, and the Norwegian Wind Ensemble, among others. He is also a member of the piano duo Almenning-Sødal, which he formed with fellow pianist Christian Sødal in 2014. Almenning's musical repertoire is wide-ranging and includes works by composers from the Baroque era to the present day. He is particularly known for his interpretations of the music of Edvard Grieg, and has recorded several albums of Grieg's piano music, including "Grieg: Lyric Pieces" and "Grieg: Piano Concerto in A Minor." He has also recorded albums of music by Beethoven, Schumann, and Rachmaninoff, among others. Almenning's musical achievements have been recognized with several awards and honors. In 2014, he was awarded the prestigious Statoil Talent Prize, which is given annually to young Norwegian artists who show exceptional promise in their field. He has also been awarded the Grieg Prize, the Norwegian Music Critics' Prize, and the Sibelius Prize, among others.

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