Born inDrammen, he was an accomplishedviolinist from a very early age and became a prominent figure in Norwegian musical life. He received his musical education in Kristiania (now Oslo) and Stockholm, and was aconcertmaster inBergen before joining theLeipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. He was a concertmaster inAberdeen, then a professor of music in Helsinki, and finally became a student once again, inSt Petersburg,Leipzig (withAdolph Brodsky), Berlin (with Adolf Becker), andLiège (withCésar Thomson).
Returning toNorway in 1893, he worked asconductor of the theatreorchestra at Den Nationale Scene in Bergen and of theBergen Philharmonic Orchestra. He became concertmaster of the Bergen Philharmonic in 1885, and principal conductor in 1893. In 1899 he was appointed conductor of the orchestra at the newly opened National Theatre in Kristiania,[2] a position he held for 30 years until his retirement in 1929.
As well as theatre music, Halvorsen conducted performances of over 30operas and also wrote theincidental music for more than 30 plays. Following his retirement from the theatre he finally had time to concentrate on the composition of his threesymphonies and two well-known Norwegianrhapsodies.
Halvorsen's compositions were a development of the nationalromantic tradition exemplified byEdvard Grieg though written in a distinctive style marked by innovativeorchestration. Halvorsen married Grieg's niece, and orchestrated some of his piano works, such as afuneral march which was played at Grieg's funeral. Five days after Halvorsen died, Grieg's cousin and widowNina Grieg also died.
In early 2016, librarians at the University of Toronto announced that they had located the manuscript score of his violin concerto, performed only three times in 1909 and considered lost. The piece received its fourth performance, 107 years later, in 2016.[3]
Norske rapsodie No. 1 (Norwegian Rhapsody No. 1) in A major (1919–1920)
Springar
I went so lately to my bed
Halling - Springar
Norske rapsodie No. 2 (Norwegian Rhapsody No. 2) in G major (1919–1920)
Dance tune from Åmot
Han Ole
Springar
Symphony No. 1 in C minor (1923)
Symphony No. 2"Fatum" in D minor (1924, revised 1928)
Symphony No. 3 in C major (1929)
Norske eventyrbylleder (Norwegian Fairy-tale Pictures), Op. 37 (1933); reworking of 1925 incidental music
Peik, prinsessen og stortrollet (Peik, the Princess and the Big Troll)
Prinsessen kommer ridende på bjørnen (The Princess Comes Riding on a Bear)
Trollenes inntog i berget det blå (Entry of the Trolls into the Town Hall)
Dans av småtroll (Dance of the Little Trolls)
Festovertyre (Norwegian Festival Overture), Op. 38
Elegi for string orchestra
Forspill til den hvite Ring
Rabnabryllaup uti Kraakjalund, Norwegian Folk-Song Arrangement for string orchestra
Concert band
Hallingdal Bataljon's Marsj (1882–1883)
Gatemarsj (Street March)
Norwegian Sea Picture
Salutation to the Royal Couple of Norway
Concertante
Air norvégien (Norwegian Air) for violin and orchestra, Op. 7 (1896/1903).
Veslemøy's Song for violin and orchestra (1898); dedicated toKathleen Parlow
Norwegian Song "The Old Fisherman's Song" for violin and string orchestra, Op. 31 (1901, 1913)
Andante Religioso for violin and orchestra (1903)
Concerto in G minor for violin and orchestra, Op. 28 (1909); dedicated to Kathleen Parlow[6]
Bryllupsmarsch, Norwegian Wedding March for violin and orchestra, Op. 32 No. 1
Danses norvégiennes No. 1 for violin and orchestra (1915)
Danses norvégiennes No. 2 for violin and orchestra (1915)
Chamber music
6 Stimmungsbilder (6 Mood Pieces) for violin and piano (1890)
Suite in G minor for violin and piano (1890)
Danses norvégiennes for violin and piano (1897)
Elegie (Andante) for violin and piano (1897)
Passacaglia in G minor on a Theme byGeorge Frideric Handel (from Harpsichord Suite in G minor, HWV 432) for violin and viola or cello (1897)
Sarabande con variazioni in D minor on a Theme by George Frideric Handel for violin and viola or cello (1897)
Crépuscule for violin and piano (c. 1898)
Suite Mosaïque for violin and piano (1898)
Intermezzo orientale
Entr'acte
Scherzino – "Spurven" (The Sparrow)
Veslemøys sang (Veslemøy's Song)
Fête nuptial rustique (An Old-fashioned Wedding)
String Quartet in E, Op. 10
Little Dance Suite for violin and piano, Op. 22
Slåtter, Peasant Dances for violin solo (1903)
Miniatures, 5 Easy Pieces for 2 violins and piano, Op. 29 (1910)
To serenader (Two Serenades) for violin and piano
Norske viser og danse (Norwegian Folk Songs and Dances), 30 Folk Arrangements for violin and piano
Concert Caprice on Norwegian Melodies for 2 violins
Choral
Varde, Cantata for male chorus and orchestra, Op. 11 (1904); words byPer Sivle
Alrune for soprano solo, female chorus and chamber orchestra, Op. 20 No. 1
Kantate ved kroningen i Trondhjems Domkirke den 22 juni 1906 for soprano, baritone, mixed chorus, orchestra, harp and organ, Op. 27 (1906); words bySigvald Skavlan
