Farewell, Kai Robert
The beloved musician’s last Midwest tour celebrates Norway in music and song
Photo courtesy of Trumpeter Kai Robert Johansen.
Leslee Lane Hoyum
Rockford, Minn.
After 15 incredible Upper Midwest tours, Norwegian trumpeter Kai Robert Johansen is making his farewell autumn tour along with an all-new troupe. Once again, he brings the musical artistry from his home area of Østfold County in southeastern Norway. Joining him are vocalist Ellen Karine Lanne from Nesodden and Svingen Torador, an accordion orchestra founded in Rakkestad.
Kai Robert, of Sarpsborg, has been performing for nearly 50 years and is beloved by Midwest audiences. He has performed on radio and TV not only in Norway but throughout Europe and the United States. He has released more than 60 CDs, several of which have reached gold and platinum status. He has also been awarded several Norwegian cultural awards for his work as a musician and composer. Many Midwesterners have become his fans not only from his personal tours, but also through his numerous performances at Nordic Fest and Høstfest. One of Elvis Presley’s producers has invited him to Memphis in 2019 to record the first-ever CD featuring Elvis’s music played on trumpet with orchestral backup.
Photo courtesy of Leslee Lane Hoyum
Vocalist Ellen Karine Lanne and accordion orchestra Svingen Torador will join Johansen in his final Midwest tour this autumn.
Lanne studied vocal performance at the University of Miami in Florida. She promoted and performed Norwegian music while in Florida through solo concerts as well as with other Norwegian musicians in collaboration with the Royal Norwegian Consulate. She was also a frequent performer for the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) for special events, including ship christenings. At home in Norway, she is frequently heard as a special-events soloist, is a member of the Coro Misto Choir at Nesodden, and has performed with Vocalis of Moss and Con Spirito in Oslo. She has also served as a backup singer for Luciano Pavarotti and José Carreras.
Founded in 1993, Svingen Torador is traveling to the States to celebrate its 25th anniversary. An accordion orchestra specializing in the diatonic button accordion, the group plays a variety of music based on traditional tunes of Norwegian and Swedish origin. The ensemble performs at a variety of local Østfold venues and throughout Norway.
Tour dates:
Performances are free and open to the public.
Leiv Erikkson International Festival Gudstjeneste
Sunday, Oct. 7, 11 a.m.
Mindekirken, 924 E. 21st St., Minneapolis.
For information, call (612) 874-0716.
Dalton Opera House
Sunday, Oct. 7, 4:30 p.m.
109 Summit St., Dalton, Minn.
Presented with assistance from Fergus Falls Heimskringla Sons of Norway members.
For information, call (218) 770-0095.
Sons of Norway Kringen Lodge
Tuesday, Oct. 9, 6:45 p.m.
722 2nd Ave. N., Fargo, N.D.
Consider dinner at 5 p.m., $12 pp.
For information, call (701) 232-9222.
Northland Community & Technical College Auditorium
Wednesday, Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m.
1101 Hwy. #1 East, Thief River Falls, Minn.
Sponsored by Snorre Lodge Sons of Norway.
For information, call (218) 681-2116.
Memorial Auditorium, Dawson-Boyd High School
Thursday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m.
601 9th St., Dawson, Minn.
Sponsored by the Sons of Norway in Canby, Madison and Granite Falls in cooperation with the Dawson-Boyd Arts Association and Thrivent.
For information, call (507) 532-5340 or (507) 296-4566.
This article originally appeared in the September 21, 2018, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.
