Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1958

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Ståle Kleiberg is a Norwegian composer who was born on April 13, 1958, in Skien, Norway. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a conductor and his mother a pianist. Kleiberg started playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the guitar and the trumpet. He also sang in a choir and played in a band during his teenage years. Kleiberg studied music at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, where he received his diploma in composition in 1983. He continued his studies in composition with the renowned composer Witold Lutosławski in Warsaw, Poland, and later with Franco Donatoni in Milan, Italy. Kleiberg's early works were influenced by the avant-garde music of the 20th century, but he later developed his own style, which is characterized by a lyrical and expressive quality. His music often incorporates elements of Norwegian folk music and nature, as well as religious themes. One of Kleiberg's most significant works is his Requiem for the Victims of Nazi Persecution, which was commissioned by the Norwegian government to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps. The work was premiered in 2002 by the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, and has since been performed by numerous orchestras and choirs around the world. The Requiem is a powerful and moving work that combines traditional elements of the requiem mass with texts from Jewish and Christian sources, as well as testimonies from survivors of the concentration camps. Another notable work by Kleiberg is his Symphony No. 1, which was commissioned by the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and premiered in 1999. The symphony is a large-scale work that is divided into three movements, each of which is inspired by a different aspect of Norwegian nature. The first movement, "Fjord," is a depiction of the rugged coastline of Norway, while the second movement, "Mountain," is a tribute to the majestic peaks of the Norwegian mountains. The final movement, "Forest," is a celebration of the lush forests that cover much of Norway. Kleiberg has also composed several works for solo instruments and chamber ensembles, including his Violin Concerto, which was premiered in 2010 by the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and the violinist Henning Kraggerud. The concerto is a virtuosic work that showcases the expressive qualities of the violin, and has been praised for its lyrical and emotional depth. In addition to his work as a composer, Kleiberg has also been active as a conductor and music educator. He has served as the artistic director of the Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra and the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, and has conducted numerous orchestras and ensembles in Norway and abroad. He has also taught composition at the Norwegian Academy of Music and the University of Tromsø. Kleiberg's music has been widely performed and recorded, and has received critical acclaim both in Norway and internationally. He has been awarded several prizes and honors for his work, including the Norwegian Music Critics' Award, the Edvard Grieg Prize, and the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. In conclusion, Ståle Kleiberg is a highly respected composer who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. His music is characterized by a lyrical and expressive quality, and often incorporates elements of Norwegian folk music and nature.

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