North by Norway29 Tammi 2023

A Simple Blue Chair

On the 28th of July this year, it will be exactly 100 years since an extraordinary event took place in the tiny mountain village of Lesjaskog. In the cultural history of modern Norway – well, there’s nothing quite like it. On a simple, blue kitchen chair, one of Europe’s greatest artists was carried to the top of a nearby mountain. A round trip of nearly 8 hours. After 20 summers in Norway, it would be his last view of the mountains for the ailing composer. It was a huge feat of endurance – and of love – by those closest to him to get him to the top and down again. Today, I tell the story of how that Englishman came to love the Norwegian mountain landscape, and how he let if fill his music. For his friends, it was important to let him see the mountains one last time, before his eyesight failed.

EPISODE PHOTO

This simple blue chair made possible an extraordinary event.

CONTACT

Twitter: (a)northbynorway

Email: northbynorway(a)gmail(.)com

webpage: andrewjboyle(.)com

THANKS

to Sonja Nyegaard for her vocal contribution

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