Viking Magazine - September 2013 - 18

World renowned violinist
Vilde Frang plays to North American
audiences in October.
ilde Frang, 22, is quickly
becoming a worldrenowned
violinist. Already
internationally acclaimed for
her virtuosity, Frang is known
for her " micro-sensitive " style in
terms of dynamics, articulation
and phrasing.
" The violin as an instrument
has an amazing palette
of sounds. It can resemble
anything from an electrical
toothbrush to rustling leaves. If
I didn't play the violin, I would
be a singer. The violin is like an
extension of my voice, " she says.
Frang believes in classical music
as a contemporary art form.
" It's not at all like worshipping
the ashes of bygone eras. It's my
goal as a musician to make the
music express how it is to live
here and now, " she explains.
Frang's extensive travel takes
her all over the world, with dozens
of appearances scheduled
on four continents this year.
" I always try to visit museums
and galleries to understand
where I am and to draw inspiration
from its culture, "
she explains, revealing a
special passion for ballet
and Flamenco.
Frang began playing at
age 4, and she debuted as
a soloist at the age of 10.
Her career took off when
she played with the Oslo
Philharmonic Orchestra at
the age of 12. " That's when I
was heard by Anne-Sophie
Mutter, and she accepted
me as a scholarship holder
in her personal foundation
for young talent and
financed my studies in
Germany, " Frang says.
In 2008 Frang debuted with
Mutter in New York's Carnegie
Hall and toured the United
States. " It was tough ... but
exactly what I needed to grow as
a musician, " she adds.
After several years under
Mutter's tutelage, Frang is now
on her own. The release of her
2010 recording of Prokofiev and
Sibelius violin concertos on the
EMI Classics label was critically
acclaimed, earning her a " BRIT "
Award as best newcomer to the
genre. In 2012, she won the Credit
Suisse Young Artist Award and
debuted with the Vienna Philharmonic
at the Lucerne Summer
Music Festival in Switzerland.
Frang will be giving three
concerts in New York and one
in Vancouver in October. " I love
playing for the American audiences
who have always warmly
welcomed me. They are well informed,
well-educated and true
music lovers in an unprejudiced
way, " she says.
For more information, visit vildefrang.com.
Cross-country skier Heidi
Weng garnered media
attention at this year's
Nordic ski championships.
t age 22, cross-country skier Heidi Weng has already
amassed an impressive list of accomplishments, with three
gold medals at the Junior World Championships and a third-place
finish at the 2012 FIS World Cup. And after a strong showing at
the 2013 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Italy, the Norwegian
media have named Weng as the heir apparent of Norwegian
skiing, following the current reign of Weng's idol and teammate,
Marit Bjørgen.
But success hasn't come without sacrifice. Weng chose to pursue
skiing full time after graduating from high school, setting aside an
earlier plan to study nursing.
" I opted out of school because I wanted to focus completely on
skiing, " Weng told reporters. " I can always go back to the classroom.
But now is when I can excel at cross-country, not when I'm 40. "
Weng says her parents supported her choice to focus on skiing. " I
said I didn't have time to sit in the classroom. ... I wanted to be the best
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF (BOTTOM) ART WIDAK / DEMOTIX
http://www.vildefrang.com
Viking Magazine - September 2013

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