"Lise Davidsen has enormous potential," says chairman of the jury Leif Ove Andsnes. (Photo: Niklas Lello)
"Lise Davidsen has become something of a household name in the last six months; rarely has anyone made a bigger entrance on to the Norwegian and international music scene. She has won major singing contests in London and Oslo, while capturing the hearts of audiences. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to hear her sing 'live' have been struck by the power and purity of her voice, her sensitive musicianship and her strong stage presence," says chairman of the jury Leif Ove Andsnes.
The objective of Statoil's talent scholarship in classical music is to open doors for talented musicians who want to go out into the world. The scholarship is worth NOK 1 million and will be presented at Statoil's Autumn Conference on 23 November 2015.
The young lyric-dramatic soprano Lise Davidsen, who is also a highly sought-after romance and lied singer, has a bachelor's degree from the Grieg Academy of Music in Bergen, a master's degree from the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, and has trained with the renowned vocal coach Susanna Eken.
She has previously won the Léonie Sonning Music Prize and the Kirsten Flagstad Award, has won several opera contests, and has worked with several prominent directors, conductors and orchestras.
Rising global star
In December 2015 she will debut as Ortlinde in "Die Walküre" by R. Wagner at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich. In spring 2016 she will cover the role of Isabella in Wagner's "Das Liebesverbot" at the Teatro Real in Madrid, and later in the year she will debut at the opera in Frankfurt in the roles of Freia and the Third Norne. Future engagements include leading roles at the Zürich Opera House, the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and the Norwegian Opera.
"Lise Davidsen has enormous potential, and the jury is among the many people in the Norwegian music scene that have very high expectations for her and her future. We look forward to following her in her future career and hope that this scholarship will help make some of her dreams come true in the coming years," says Andsnes.
Reidar Gjærum, Executive vice president. (Photo: Ole Jørgen Bratland)
"The aim of this scholarship is to help talented young Norwegian musicians out into the world.
Statoil's Heroes of Tomorrow programme is a long-term commitment. We want to inspire talented classical musicians and help them go far, internationally too," says Reidar Gjærum, Statoil's executive vice president, corporate communication.
The other nominees were:
Pianist Joachim Carr, (27) from Bergen, who has performed with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra.
The string quartet Opus13, which has performed on national radio in Norway and at the Oslo Quartet Series, as part of their talent development programme, and is taking part in the new Norwegian mentoring programme for classical musicians Crescendo.
Cellist Sandra Lied Haga (21) from Oslo, who has been making a name for herself in Europe and Norway for a number of years. She has played several concerts at Wigmore Hall and has a special invitation to Daniel Barenboim's new academy in Berlin, "Artistic Diploma program."
"All the nominees are exceptional musicians and have much of what it takes to go far internationally," says the chairman of the jury.
Scholarship to help make dreams come true
Statoil has supported talented classical musicians since 1990. Previous recipients of the classical music scholarship include Ole Edvard Antonsen, Mari Eriksmoen, Christian Ihle Hadland, Vilde Frang Bjærke, Marianne Thorsen and the current chairman of the jury Leif Ove Andsnes.
The winner of the 2014 Statoil scholarship was Eivind Holtsmark Ringstad.
The scholarship is part of Statoil's Heroes of Tomorrow talent programme, through which the company supports young performers in the fields of sports, culture and education.
This year's jury consisted of the chairman of the jury and ambassador for Statoil's classical music scholarship Leif Ove Andsnes, and Solveig Kringlebotn, Peter Herresthal, Ole Kristian Ruud, Ingrid Røynesdal and Marianne Thorsen.
For more information, please contact:
Knut Rostad, mob: +47 905 48 890, email: knuros@statoil.com
| The Statoil talent scholarship in classical music |
| Statoil's talent scholarship in classical music is awarded each year and is worth NOK 1 million. The scholarship is part of Statoil's Heroes of Tomorrow talent programme, through which the company supports young performers in the fields of sports, culture and education. The scholarship is paid out over four years and aims to help promote and stimulate the recipient's international career and opportunities. The scholarship was awarded for the first time in 1990 to Leif Ove Andsnes, Ole Edvard Antonsen, Truls Mørk and Marianne Thorsen. Individual performers between the ages of 18 and 28 are eligible for the scholarship, and up to age 32 years for singers. In 2012, the rules were changed to make ensembles, trios and groups with an average age of up to 28 eligible for nomination. |