Blog

Spoiler alert: I am Superman and Batman

Tue, 2017-03-07 20:55

 Just finished recording all of the music for my newest album, "Moonwalk", coming out in the beginning of April. I was able to record everything in two days at Café de Concert, was pretty exhausted afterwords but I have a good feeling about the result! I recorded 8 Moon preludes, 8 short pieces (Children´s Corner) and a Sonata in three movements, all new compositions I wrote just a couple of months ago. In addition to these I also recorded some Rachmaninov, Schubert and Tveitt. The album also contains all of my eight photos of the super moon that I took in November last year, which reflects the music and vice versa. Excited to get it out so you can plug and play:) Speaking of moons, last night was crystal clear, just had to snap a photo of her, isn´t she beautiful?
 
 And yeah, spoiler alert, I am Superman AND Batman, lol!
 And as always, I find lots of excuses not to practise, haha! Soon performing in Trondheim and in Tallinn this month, excited!

Music scores, wheels and skies

Tue, 2017-02-07 09:22

 Alohaand what a wonderful January it has been! Got to plau in beautiful Ålesund with the kick ass violinist Ai-Ling Chiu. The concert was produced by the one and only Åsmund Kleivenes on behalf of Idrett Uten Alkohol (woop woop!) Got a nice little article before the concert also, was nice! Can´t wait to perform with Ai-Ling again, THAT was awesome!
 Performed a new piece I have written for the French Embassy and some fancy champagne connosieurs last week at Café de Concert! Sometimes you just need to chill out with a pair of cool wheels.....
Just moved into the house I just bought, turned out the house really was in paradise after all...holy balls what a view! Currently on two pieces for piano solo and orchestra! Will be performing solo in Trondheim (Olavshallen) shortly and also in Valdres with Guro Kleven Haga and Eldbjørg Hemsing (Valdres Sommersymfoni) later this semester amongst other cool stuff can´t wait!
 My Hamboard just came from Huntington Beach in California. PSYCH!!!!
But meanwhile, while waiting....
PS check out my dad, the coolest old school baller of all time...I rest my case!

Surf´s up

Mon, 2017-01-09 13:32

The New York Cristmas Concert at Kulturkirken Jakob was nothing less but EPIC. Save the date for this year - December 21st 2017. 
 Right before that concert I also had a fun performance in Stavanger for Sumitomo Corporation, a Japanese company with lots of fun Japanese people in the audience!! 
 Earlier in December all weeks were also packed with various concerts, events and a lot to do, so it was definitely TOTALLY ok to take off for Huntington Beach and Paris right before new year! Just came back yesterday, ready and fit for fight! Bring it 2017!

Superhero

Wed, 2016-11-30 18:16


Avengers, ASSEMBLE! Has been a lot of great gigs this months, a lot of moderating included - which I LOVE doing! And ALWAYS with a little extra Kolstad surprise on the big screen or "over the radio", woop woop! Last week I finally got to exhibit all of my astrophotographies of the supermoon, and boy was that a great feeling! Also very happy with how my 5 Lunar Intermezzo's turned out! Here is a facebook excerpt from the first one, and here are some photos from the concert exhibition. 
 December is coming up soon, tomorrow actually!! And with it a lot of exciting concerts and projects! Hope to see you on December 21st, by the way! New York City in Kulturkirken Jakob in Oslo! A concert I am looking very much forward to participate in! To all my Norwegian and international friends in Oslo, WELCOME! The New York Christmas mafia is assembling!! 

Tampa, Florida was unforgettable

Tue, 2016-11-08 14:02

Many thanks to the wonderful Siri Rock and her Hadeland mafia from Norway who made sure I will never forget one of my most wonderful concert experiences abroad in so many ways. Your hospitality, Siri, is mindblowing. I felt like home. And performing in a venue from the 20´s was absolutely perfect for the soul of a composer. Also - that crowd you got together? PLEASE bring them to ALL my concerts!
And folks - THIS is how you spend your time before and after concerts!! (Siri, you sure as h*** know how to make musicians pumped up!!)
Met the neighbour, Mr. Swan - a 3 bronze medal Vietnam War veteran...who gave me my first (INSANE) flying lesson...!!!!!
 And yes, the after party!!!
 I will be back! PS you coming??

Almost take off

Mon, 2016-10-24 21:33

Had 150 people at my gallery on Tuesday! THAT, I guess, is what you can called PACKED :D I am always amazed of how this place seems to be so flexible for every different occation :D And in between the pieces I take "lofting" to a WHOLE new level, haha!
Wednesday I performed at Voksenåsen with THIS view next to the piano.....!!
And then came Thursday, "double trouble" with a home court advantage! First at the get together at Café de Concert exhibiting paintings by Isabelle Reilo Riis and putting music to them, then at The Thief Hotel!
Oh, got a pretty good review the other day also from a concert in Holmestrand!!
DURACELL-KANIN PÅ ANABOLE STEROIDER
Dynamitt-anmeldelse fra Jarlsberg Avis i Holmestrand om konserten i Y Kirken forrige torsdag!
Her er noen highlights fra anmeldelsen (skrevet av Lars Ivar Hordnes) It sure made my day!!
- Verbalt fyrverkeri
- Både tilbakeholden og energisk musikalitet
- Teknisk imponerende klaverspill
- Språkøre av de sjeldne, bortimot perfekte aksenter på henholdsvis engelsk, kinesisk, russisk og fransk
- Aksel Kolstad leverte varene
- Mannen må være et geni
 This weekend I did two performances in Trondheim during the Nothern European Art Gymnastics Championships, was awsome!
And now, off to Tampa, Florida! EXCITED!! Stay TUNED!

In the paint

Wed, 2016-10-12 23:23


Veldig stas å nylig bli signert av Plan B som en av 38 suverene artister i norsk underholdning! Check it OUT!! Her gjør jeg en photoshoot med den fabelaktike Kilian Munch for bilder til presentasjonen for Plan B. And DUDE, have you seen my new Floating Penthouse?!?!? (You can rent it, and I can play for you on it!)

German Die Zeit stopped by (in the toilet of course) for an interview the other day, and OH - New York Times did also!!
How very inspiring to see that The New York Times has mentioned me as one of the musicians worldwide that has made an impact on how to present classical music in a new way to reach out to a larger audience. By the way, do listen to my newest sonata for piano solo, would love to hear what you think about it!


Spiller i Holmestrand i morgen kl 19:00!! Håper se deg der hvis du typ bor der :D

Blir stadig stødigere med mobilkameraet ned i okularet, gleder meg til å stille ut bilder av månen siste torsdagen i november på Café de Concert! Setter så klart musikk til, kom kom!!

Ellers ser ting ut til å gå DRITbra! Ofte.

Og ja - profesjonell linselus! Peace out. PS: Kommer du på torsdag til uka?

Game is back on!

Fri, 2016-08-19 15:43


3 x 75 minutter Kolstad-dynamitt nylig detonert fra scenen på Hjertens Kulturhus med konsertforedraget "Dare to be different" i starten av uken. For et fantastisk publikum! Det er meg det kommer an på, stå støtt med begge beina godt planta og tørr og vær annerledes, folkens! 

Så bar det til Stavanger dagen etterpå med konsertforedrag for Stavanger Kulturskoles top notch lærere, stas for meg å spille for dem!

Hvem kommer på torsdag på Café de Concert? :)

Kolstad newsflash

Thu, 2016-08-11 11:28

Ble en fin promo-sommer i år:)

2 x NRK Sommeråpent, artikler i Aftenposten, Bergens Tidene, Stavanger Aftenblad, Fedrelandsvennen og Adressa både på papir og på nett! (Mette Bugge, det der var helt insane!!!)
Stay tuned for more Kolstad spam :D

NRK Sommeråpent 20 juli
NRK SOmmeråpent 6 august

Aftenposten nettavis
Bergens Tidene nettavis
Stavanger Aftenblad nettavis
Fædrelandsvennen nettavis
Adressa nettavis

Vacation needed!!

Thu, 2016-07-07 00:14


After concerts in Valdres during Valdres Sommersymfoni...
...and a concert in Stavanger....

...an unforgettable concert with Norway´s oldest ballet dancer, Grete Brunvoll....

....6 concerts in Valdres actually....

...a concert in the Hardingtonar Festival in Norheimsund...

....actually two concerts - one in the house of the legendary Geirr Tveitt...

....a little challenge to bring out my inner viking during "Tough Viking" in Oslo....

....a TV interview and a newspaper interview (stay tuned in the end of July)....

...two concerts during Miniøya festival in Oslo...

....and a great time with Adidas (CEO´s from Europe)...

...I guess a little vacation after a hectic June can´t come any sooner! C ya on the other side :)

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