Festival staff highlights - today: Communications Manager Torill Faleide

From an unprecedented trip with international delegates on their way to Førdefestivalen Photo: Rigmor Johnsen

Torill has been in Førdefestivalen since 2002. She has loved her job since day one. First and foremost because it has been incredibly rewarding to give people so many great experiences through music and dance. -It is absolutely fantastic this transformation that is happening in Førde in July every year during the festival. The anticipation that gradually increases as week 27 approaches, and the joy we see shining in people's eyes when they come out of the concerts. Just think, everything we have experienced through this festival!

But now she regrets the challenge she gave herself and her colleagues to come up with some of their best concert experiences during the years they have worked in Førdefestivalen . - For me, that means 18 festivals, and it's hopeless to choose just three; that's why I've settled on a list of five personal highlights. It's a chronological list, more than a top list. And it's five among many, just so you know, she says.

Bed on Førdefestivalen 2003. (yes, a bit poor photo quality, but..)

BED - song magic from Madagascar

First - I go back to 2003 - my first from the inside; SENGE, the acapella group from Madagascar made an indelible impression. 'Musical black art' was written by Noralv Pedersen, who covered Førdefestivalen in Klassekampen that year. A nice tag for that concert, I think.   

The Little Prince - in folk music version

Second - must be The Little Prince, with Gro Marie Svidal, Ulf Arne Johannessen and Harald Hesjevoll. A production that came about after a script competition. Førdefestivalen had in collaboration with Sogn og Fjordane Teater. I stood in the gallery in the theatre hall, together with Fiona Talkington from the BBC. We both laughed. And Fiona later took the performance to Kings Place in London!

Fantastic flamenco

Third - and now I'm making a leap back in time, to 2013, to Maria Pagés Compagnia in the sports hall. A fantastic flamenco performance that simply put the audience on fire. As so many times, I couldn't sit still and enjoy the entire performance, but what I remember is the audience's fantastic response. THAT in itself was an experience.

Sublime harp duo

Fourth - must be the concert with Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita in 2015. A sublime duo. Finch on harp and Keita on kora have burned themselves into my memory forever, and are musicians I still follow.  

Photo: Knut Utler

Constantinople then

Fifth and last in this round (?) will be Constantinople & Ablaye Cissoko in 2018. Ablaye Cissoko from Senegal is a musician I hold in high regard, and after this concert I am a lifelong fan of Kiya Tabassian, Patrick Graham and Pierre Yves-Martel in Constantinople! Fantastic to experience them in Førde !