Gisle Kverndokk

Gisle Kverndokk (b. 1967) studied composition at The Norwegian Academy of Music and The Juilliard School in New York. He has won prizes for several of his orchestral works, which have been performed by all the major orchestras in Norway. In 1999/2000 he was Composer of the year with Trondheim Symphony Orchestra. His first full-scale opera «The Falcon Tower» premiered in 1990, and his next opera ”George’s Marvellous Medicine” was awarded Work of the Year 1995 by The Norwegian Composers Society. With librettist Øystein Wiik, he has written musicals and operas that have been performed in theatres in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, USA and Norway: “Sophie’s World” (1998), “Vincent” (2001), “Dangerous Liaisons” (2002), “Homeless” (2003), “Martin L.” (2008) which was nominated for The Nordic Music Prize, and “Around the world in 80 days”, commissioned for the opening of the new opera house in Oslo and premiered there in 2010. The children operas “Max and Moritz” and “Supersize Girl”, commissioned by The New York Opera Society, premiered in Washington DC 2010 and 2013. With librettist Ivar Tindberg he won the Prix Italia in 2000 for the radio opera "Bokken Lasson – stumbling success", and their opera "The Fourth Watch of the Night" was premiered by The Norwegian National Opera in 2005, and awarded the Edvard Prize 2006. Kverndokk’s chamber opera "Easter", with libretto by Aksel-Otto Bull, was premiered by Opera Sør in Kilden, Kristiansand in 2014. His works also include chamber and church music, music for film, theatre and ballet. He has been music director of several music theatre productions in Norway, Germany, the USA and Canada.

Januar 2015