Nils Henrik Asheim received the Norwegian Music Critics' Prize for the 9 hour long, immersive concert of Olivier Messiaen's complete organ music that took place on nov 17,. 2018 in Stavanger Concert Hall.  Read more on Stavanger Aftenblad.  The performers were Jennifer Bate (UK), Thomas Ospital (FR), Lidia Książkiewicz (PL/FR), Kåre Nordstoga (NO), Thomas Lacôte (FR) Nils Henrik Asheim (NO), James McVinnie (UK) og Colin Mark Andrews (UK/USA). Visual design by Boya Bøckman.

The first performance of House of Sound, an orchestra piece of 8 minutes, was a success.  Have a listen&look at NRK's TV production here.  The piece starts at about 25:00. [interview at 23:00]

Nils Henrik Asheim recently completed House of Sound, a commission from the Norwegian Broadcasting Orchestra. The piece lasts 8 minutes and is scheduled for a world premiere on May 8, 2019 in Oslo. 

Ruth Wilhelmine Meyer og Nils Henrik Asheim presenterer musikken fra sitt nye album.
Fredag 25.januar kl 22:00, Oslo Domkirke. Velkommen!
Gratis inngang, mulighet for frivillige utgangspenger.

The winner of the Nordic Council Music Prize 2018 is Nils Henrik Asheim for his work MUOHTA.
Read the jury's motivation
 Hør presentasjon og utdrag av verket i NRK P2 Spillerom
Vel fortjent, Asheim (Stavanger Aftenblad)
Ekstra viktig for oss i den litt stille delen av musikklivet (Stavanger Aftenblad + Aftenposten)
Stillfarende og prisbelønt (Vårt Land)
Fikk Nordisk Råds musikkpris da han ventet det minst (Minervanett)

The jury's statement:  "The 2018 Nordic Council Music Prize goes to a piece of music that is at once acutely contemporary yet conscious of its history. Our very first instrument, the human voice, is central to the piece whose sound world cautiously integrates language. Listeners are invited into a different experience of time, into a series of atmospheres or states which sometimes engender a sense of risk and unease.

Coverforside Vox Humana
We are extremely proud to announce the release of this new album on the label KKV.
Listen on your favourite platform - Spotify, Apple, Tidal etc:
http://phonofile.link/vox-humana

Buy CD here:
http://shop.klicktrack.com/532399

More in-depth info on the project: www.nilshenrikasheim.no/61-voxhumana

 

King Harald has appointed Nils Henrik Asheim as Knight of the Royal Order of St.Olav.  The order was handed over in a ceremony hosted by the Mayor of Stavanger on September 11, 2018. 

Nils Henrik Asheim utnevnt til ridder (Stavanger Aftenblad)

Retten til si eiga stemme (Stavanger Aftenblad)

Nils Henrik Asheim er blitt orgelets reddende ridder (Vårt Land)

Nils Henrik Asheim en verdig ridder (Rogalands Avis)

Reviews of CD “Grieg and Tveitt for organ” from press and websites:

"...a fullfilled work of art, maybe the most important Norwegian organ recording in many years." "...Asheim shows a deep respect for Grieg and Tveitt's worlds of sound and finds a natural balance between their music and his own interpretation. Nothing less than impressive."  (Orgelspeilet).

“Asheim opened up new horizons. We heard the pieces as new, different, but with the rich sonorities from Tveitt’s compositions taken care of.” (Stavanger Aftenblad)

“The enormous power of the organ turns Grieg’s Ballade to a much mightier piece than ususal… The granite-hard force of the mountains unleash cascades of sound. It sounds heavenly and almost supernatural… Geirr Tveitts Hardingtones appear with a simple, melodic beauty, in a completely different way than in the orchestra or piano versions.” (Kulturspeilet)

“Asheim is a skilled virtuoso, and he manages to create clarity in the most breathless parts of Grieg… I can perceive a dramatical thread through the whole piece, which is unusual… All in all, this record is quite a find. The music is fabulously played, the works are just as well re-composed through both transcription and registrations.” (Klassekampen)

“In a superb way Asheim unveils the excellences of sound in the organ of Stavanger concert hall. Tveitt… is a guide into the halls of Nature mysticism, through sounds that Norway had not heard before. This is what Asheim, a true master of the organ, reveals with both smoothness and virtuososity.” (Vårt Land)

"Not only are the pieces given new life in unexpected ways - the organ as an instrument itself appears refreshingly unfamiliar. The huge instrument-machine engenders a sound that oscillates between concrete connotation and abstract figure." (Morgenbladet)