Sissel & friends

DOES A PAVAROTTI: Sissel Kyrkjebø fills the stage with musical friends and guest appearances. Here she is together with the Norweigan group State, Danish Sort Sol, the Broadcast Orchestra and their director Anders Eljas. In addition, there were appearances by Espen Lind, the Swedish violinist Kalle Moreus and Paddy Moloney of The Chieftains. All photos: JEANETTE LANDFALD

IRISH ELEMENT: Sissel has long worked with The Chieftains of Ireland, here represented by Paddy Moloney.

BEAUTY AND THE ROCKER: Sissel Kyrkjebø together with the singer from the rock band Sort Sol.

DRAMMEN (Dagbladet): Sissel Kyrkjebø is going in Pavarotti's footsteps. She increasingly surrounds hersef with more and more musical friends on stage. Friday the entire family will appear before a sold-out audience in the Oslo Spektrum.

By MAGNUS S. RØNNINGEN, translated from Norwegian by Robert A Jones
Onsdag 5. september 2001 7:16

Yesterday, a shining Sissel presented songs from her entire career before a sold-out audience in the Drammen Theatre. But the 32-year-old was, as usual, not alone on stage. With her she had Espen Lind, the danish rockstars of Sort Sol, Norwegian group State, the Swedish violinist Kalle Moreus and Paddy Moloney of The Chieftians.

It's obvious Sissel has learned a few tricks from precisely The Chieftains, who she has performed with on several CDs and concerts. The Irish folk group's albums are always filled with superstars. Now Sissel is following in their footsteps. The guest elements of her appearances increasingly happen more often.

New Album
Yesterday's concert was recorded by NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting Company) and will be seen on Norwegian TV on 8. December. In addition there are plans to release both a video and DVD of the concert. And the music will be a Live CD, which will be released in Scandinavia in November. Sissel sang songs in Swedish, Danish, English and Norwegian.

There were songs from her entire career, most people remember "Kjærlighet" from 1986, but most stress was placed on her debut presentation of the new song "Walking Through Fire," written by Espen Lind. He maintains that he was neither unhappy about his poor record sales nor Sissel selling out Oslo Spektrum.

"It's quite alright to come in and do one song and go home afterwards. I don't like to tour," said Lind, who is working in the studio for the time being. "I don't know what the future will bring, but life is good, as it always is for northerners," he insisted.

Was Nervous
"This was really great!" said Sissel after the concert. She has been excited about this concert for six months. Now she can look forward to Friday's concert in the Oslo Spektrum.

"I've been part of the Christmas concerts which have sold out the Spektrum, but never alone. I was very nervous that we wouldn't sell enough tickets. So, it feels really nice to have sold out after all.