The Risør Festival of Chamber Music was established in 1991 with the following mission statement:

"The Risør Chamber Music Festival is non-profit foundation, the purpose of which is to arrange an annual chamber music festival at which both important classical music and more contemporary repertoires will be presented. Efforts will be made to find musicians - both Norwegian and foreign - of recognised high artistic standard or with proven, indisputable talent. The Chamber Music Festival will be a national and international forum for chamber music and will also stimulate musical and cultural life in Risør and the region."

Leif Ove Andsnes and Lars Anders Tomter are the Artistic Directors of the festival. They are widely recognised in Norway and abroad for the quality and variety of their programmes. Thanks to their networks and international careers, they have brought top international artists to Risør throughout the history of the festival. The repertoires cover a broad range of music from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. The Artistic Directors also focus on presenting Norwegian and contemporary music. They always play a leading musical role in the festival.

The musicians stay in Risør throughout the festival week. This creates a special atmosphere, not only among the musicians but also between the musicians and their audiences. It also enables works for different types of ensembles to be heard at the same concert.

The Risør Festival Strings, which is the festival's own orchestra, has existed for as long as the festival itself. The highly talented young people who initially formed the orchestra have developed into a group of musicians who hold many high-profile positions in Norwegian orchestras and ensembles. Nevertheless, the Risør Chamber Music Festival still aims to recruit new, young, talented musicians to the orchestra.

Would you like to know more about our history? We recommend the book ”The Risør Festival of Chamber Music - a fairytale”, written in 2005. Also available in english. NOK 50,-