Café de Concert

 

 

Today - Café de Concert has become the atelier and concert gallery of the young and multitalented pianist and composer Aksel Kolstad. It took him 10 years to brand this concept and turn it into one of the most original and innovating classical concepts in the world. Here´s the story behind...... The Idea The origin and still driving force behind Café de Concert is to present classical music to a larger audience. The genre has by no means the same appeal as pop, rock or jazz. Creating a more relaxed atmosphere, and not to forget Kolstad´s magical ability to present classical music with humor and showmanship, it all results in a more intimate and fun concert format than the traditional solemn style. The idea that classical music can once again become popular music, the way it once was, is the motivation behind the concept Café de Concert. Classical concerts at cafés – Café de Concert recruits musicians, both students and professionals, to play classical music for the people. The goal is to stimulate as well as strengthen everyone’s interest in classical music. The level of musicianship is high, and with a relaxed, positive atmosphere, between the pieces, it is possible to have a cup of coffee, have something to eat or perhaps talk with the person sitting beside you. Café de Concert is an arena for all creative arts. In addition to musical performances, there are regular arts exhibitions and ballet/modern dance performances directed by CdC.  

Music of Norway - classical music store is open

"Music of Norway", a classical music store is now open at Café de Concert. Standard repertoire and contemporary music on CD or on sheet music. Musikk-Huset is still alive. Come buy your christmas CD here!

New and improved

Ready set - play! Fantastic "get together" and vernissage with photographer Natalia Pipkina yesterday, huge turnout! New floor, new sound proof roof, basketball court on the floor, new photos, new christmas edition in the body shop concert toilet, DJ in the house, new BMW, NEW BOSTON GRAND PIANO from Steinway Piano Gallery....we had a blast. Hope to see you next time, will proooobably be one more go befor christmas :) 

Makio, prima ballerina from the Opera in Oslo - gave me her shoes from last nights performance. I was STARSTRUCK!!!!!

Prix Café de Concert

Last weekend Aksel hosted the superfinal of the Norwegian National Classical Music Competition "UMM", also beeing the front figur of the whole competition he made sure both the competitors and the audience would never forget this year´s competition. Cause Aksel did it - his way. He also performed and entertained the crowd with unthinkable things in a traditional concert hall. He also handed out a special prize, Prix Café de Concert. Congratulations to the young and very talented soprano Lydia Hoen, who totally melted Aksel´s ears and heart. "For great talent, impressive technique and the ability to think out of the box" were Aksel´s words before handing out his Prix Café de Concert - a little golden "magical" elephnat. The prize contains concerts and various art projects through Café de Concert. Aksel and Café de Concert has started to collaborate with the competition on a long term basis. To make sure the young generation gets what they need to survive in this concrete jungle. "I wish for this competition to become one of those track and field days in elementary school. Where everybody  wants to win at the same time as they are cheering for their classmates to win too. Even though we are soloists, we are allways chambermusicians" - Aksel Kolstad

Aschehoug book release of "Raushetens tid"

Aschehoug released the book "Raushetens tid" by Kathrine Aspaas on Oct 17th - was one hell of a book release, I´ll tell you that!!! Looking forward to more releases by Aschehoug and also other publishers. CdC - the place to be! Amongst other musicians the living legend Tor Espen Aspaas performed Rachmaninov like only he knows how....!! The author Kathrine Aspaas. Of course we served:

Aksel Kolstad - Munch Ambassador

Aksel Kolstad was from October 10th 2012 officially announced to be the first "Munch-artist" and an international "Edvard Munch Ambassador". - Kolstad will carry Munch on his musical and artistic shoulders, says Front-of-House Manager at the Munch Musesum in Oslo, Cécile Therond Hjelm. - Aksel Kolstad will revitalize the artist and provocateur Edvard Munch through his powerful music and his artistic projects world wide. Once a month Kolstad will give "Munch reflection-recitals" at the Munch museum in Oslo at the same time as his ateiler, Café de Concert at Tjuvholmen, will become the second home of the Munch museum.
"To me Munch is Shostakovitch mixed with deadly strawberries on canvas" - Aksel Kolstad
Yesterday evening this exciting partnership was launched and became official at Aksel Kolstad’s gallery Café de concert. It is the occasion to present the Munch Museum‘s newest exhibition, The Modern Eye, which is opening for the public the 31th of October. Aksel Kolstad will be the master of ceremony for the opening evening event of the exhibition on the 2nd of November, and promises you an evening like you’ve never experienced before.
"I think change is what’s needed in order to preserve art and that is what the Munch Museum does. By taking a new direction without changing the content, the Munch Museum is leading the way in a new artistic era we are now entering, surrounded by powerful and strong colours that dominate the media landscape.  I want to tattoo Munch on Norway’s chest!" says Kolstad.
"We’re looking forward to a new and exciting partnership with the very creative musician and entertainer Aksel Kolstad. We’re hoping this partnership between the museum and Aksel’s Café de concert will be an eye-opener for many and contribute to make Munch’s fantastic art more available to a greater public", says Cecile Therond Hjelm, Front-of-house Manager at the Munch Museum.

Success for Wenche Da Cruz

Wenche Da Cruz, a fantastic artist painter from Kongsberg, had her vernissage today with a full house! Head of Norsk Kulturråd, Yngve Slettholm, had an amazing introduction also giving lots of cred to Café de Concert (which was very very flattering) and then Aksel "took us home". The exhibition will last until October 21st. We are now also open on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 pm! Come on in and enjoy the wonderful exhibition !!!! Café de Concert is proud to present Wenche Da Cruz! Oh yes - we ate them like CRAZY!! <3 Øivind Karlsen wieners!!!!!!!!

Café de Concert opening of the Sneak Peak

"Myhre Heis & Elektro" built the Sneak Peak on Tjuvholmen, one of the main attractions in the center of Oslo - right next to Café de Concert! And yesterday - they celebrated with a kick ass event that we hosted for them! Was great fun. Aksel was abroad performing, but we took care of  everything - just the way Aksel likes it to be taken care of, with grace, funkyness and great joy!  

Representative Associate

Celine Therese Farestveit is one of three newly hired Representative Associates for me and Café de Concert. I am very proud to have her on the team. Besides beeing the crazy female-version of me, she got skills you perhaps wouldn´t expect at first. For starters, she´s actually a math teacher, just for the record. And she also has a very cool math project I really believe will change the minds of many people when it comes to math. And that´s just why I hired her - besides looking super funky! She has the ability to see things in a different way - which I, as we all know, am very found of. Welcome on board, Celine, let´s kick it! Stay tuned for more info on the other two wonderful Representative Associates on board, the talented, young Alexander van Loosdrecht and the hot shot straight from the fashion catwalk in Milano and London - Pernille Moen!

Café de Concert YouTube Channel

The history of Café de Concert

Café de Concert began a few days before the 19th of June 2003 when Aksel Kolstad together with a colleague performed live on Midt i Musikken, a classical music program on NRK radio P2. During the program, the trial concert was announced, to be held at Kastanjen restaurant on Bygdøy Allé in Oslo.
Read more...

Visit the old Café de Concert media centre HERE

Latest posts

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