Manger Musikklag are truly breaking new brass band ground as they prepare to put on a new opera 'Hypermusikal' in their own BrassWind Festival this weekend.

Opera

The opera, composed by renowned contemporary composer Glenn Erik Haugland and with lyrics by Heidi Tronsmo, is documentary in form, and aims to discover why some people are so deeply involved and almost obsessed by different types of musical expressions — in this case, brass bands.

Haugland and Tronsmo have been doing research on Manger Musikklag, and the result is to be premiered this Sunday.

I consider BrassWind to be a milestone in the band movement in NorwayTorstein Aagaard-Nilsen

Singers

In addition to Manger Musikklag, there will be 8 singers and a pianist involved in the production, which is conducted by Trond Korsgård.

The BrassWind festival is an annual event celebrating contemporary music, and each year various soloists, ensembles, Wind and Brass Bands are invited to perform at the festival.

Key goal

The key goal is to increase interest and awareness around contemporary Brass and Wind Band music, as well as promoting Norwegian contemporary music.

Artistic Director is composer Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen, who told 4BR: "I consider BrassWind to be a milestone in the band movement in Norway.

Since the first festival in 2004 more than 35 new works for brass- and wind band have been premiered at the festival.

For the first time in history of banding in Norway, the best amateur-players, professionals, soloists, conductors and composers can listen to new music outside the context of a competition."

More information

For more information about the festival, visit www.mangermusikklag.no or www.brasswind.no