Welcome to The Oslo Jazz Festival 2009!

On Sunday August 9, the Oslo Jazz Festival and Atomic Agency kicked off an unprecedented festival week in the Norwegian capital with Antony and the Johnsons and the Norwegian National Opera Orchestra on the roof of the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet.

Oslo Jazz Festival will be officially opened by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre in the Opera House on August 10.

His speech will be followed by a concert in honor of the late Radka Toneff. Radka has been a great source of inspiration for countless Norwegian jazz musicians, and “For Radka” has the recipients of Radka Toneff’s memorial prize as its starting point. Karin Krog, Kirsten Bråten Berg, Solveig Slettahjell, Live Maria Roggen, Per Jørgensen and Arve Henriksen have all received this prize.

With 70 concerts on 17 stages in six days, Oslo is ready for its annual jazz celebration this week. Tickets are still available.

Oslo Jazz Festival was established in 1986 and attracts about 70,000 people each year.

Concerts on the roof of Oslo’s new opera house promise to be a spectacular experience. The stage will be placed by the water’s edge and the sloping roof is a perfect amphitheatret with room for 8 500 people. The Oslo Jazz Festival 2009 takes place August 10 to 15.

For tickets and further info visit Oslojazz.no