There is alot to look forward to at this year´s St. Hans evening! We are proud that the elite of Norwegian opera soloists is coming to the festival. Conductor and pianist Reza Aghamir, a true Norwegian classical music rebel plus 13 earnest lads will give us Grieg as you have never heard him before, classical opera arias, and a few thrilling surprises. The festival guarantees a fabulous musical experience, - but a formal occasion is very unlikely…
Conductor Reza Aghamir sits at the piano just as he always does. But the singers regularly all trade places. Reza e i Ragazzi or ”Reza and the boys” as we would say in English.
– We serve up cultural delights from traditional Norwegian music, but also arias and duets from the operatic repertoire. «Nessun Dorma», «The Pearl Fishers» and «Turandot» amongst others, states Hallvar Djupvik and David Fielder, two of the 13 soloists who are coming to the festival.
These lads represent a barrel load of testosterone. Reza e i Ragazzi first saw daylight two years ago. In the Spring of 2014 they attempted a world record by giving the most concerts ever within a space of 12 hours. They began in Tromsø and flew southwards to 10 towns, ending up at the opening of the Arts Festival of Bergen. They are not entirely sure if they succeeded, but the boys insist it was a worthwhile and fun experience.
Fielder and Djupvik are delighted with the group:
– We all have the right to make some individual input but are also members of the band, emphasises Djupvik.
– We are a little gang of singers living in Norway. It´s great for the mileau that we can do something like this, states Fielder.
Reza Aghamir fled Khomeini´s Iran at the end of the 1980´s and arrived in Norway as a 15 year old. With his unique musical talent he was accepted to Norges Musikkhøgskole only to be kicked out after a matter of months…Reza has a background in the hip-hop scene, and the man behind this project is also the mastermind behind projects such as opera night at the Underwater Pub at St. Hanshaugen in Oslo, and the male choir Gli Scapoli.
The final repertoire list for this concert will no doubt be finalised minutes beforehand in the green room…