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Hauklandssanden in the Lofoten Islands, ©Baard Loeken and courtesy of the Lofoten Islands Festival.
Lofoten Festival - Chamber music above the Arctic Circle
8
days
from
£5,720
Book today with a deposit of
£858
5th - 12th July 2026
Tour highlights
- International artists including Leif Ove Andsnes, Arvid Engegård, Roderick Williams, Lise de la Salle, Pavel Haas Quartet, Nils Mortensen, Paul Lewis, Benjamin Grosvenor, Engegård Quartet.
- A stunning backdrop of mountains, lakes and fjords on a string of islands off northern Norway, above the Arctic Circle, with midnight sun.
- Optional cruise, introduction to the history of the area, visits to local galleries.
The Lofoten archipelago juts into the sea off northern Norway, beyond the Arctic Circle. This string of islands is of extraordinary natural beauty, with craggy mountains, sheltered inlets, unspoilt wilderness and, in high summer, the midnight sun. Svolvær is one of two towns in the district; its population is less than 5,000. The Lofoten International Chamber Music Festival must be one of the most remote such events on the planet, and one of the most beautifully located.
To the attractions of landscape and location are added a quite exceptional collection of performers. The line-up for 2026 includes Leif Ove Andsnes, Arvid Engegård, Roderick Williams, Lise de la Salle, Pavel Haas Quartet, Nils Mortensen, Benjamin Grosvenor and the Engegård Quartet.
Concert venues range from intimate churches (some with their own Steinway Grands), to Lofoten Cathedral, the largest wooden building north of Trondheim. This is an intensive experience, with two or three concerts of between an hour and an hour and a half over six days. On more than one occasion, late night concerts take wondrous advantage of the midnight sun.
Some concerts take place in the hotel, and some are elsewhere in Svolvær a few minutes away on foot. Others are on other islands and involve drives of up to 75 minutes, the islands being linked by bridges – opportunity to experience more of the wonderful landscapes. The tour includes an optional cruise to the Trollfiord, experiencing the unique Norwegian landscape.
Itinerary
Fly at c. 9.00am from London Gatwick to Oslo (Norwegian). A guided walking tour of Oslo by Frank Høifødt in the afternoon, followed by a lecture and dinner in the hotel restaurant. Overnight in Oslo.
Fly at c. 1.00pm from Oslo to Svolvær (Widerøe). The remaining 6 nights are spent in the pretty coastal town of Svolvær. Arrive at the hotel in time for dinner before an evening concert in the Lofoten Kulturhus: Engegård Quartet: Biedřich Smetana, String Quartet in E Minor – Allegro vivo appassionata; Lisa de la Salle (piano): Alberto Ginestera, Danzas Argentinas; Goldberg Quartet: Béla Bartók, Allegretto pizzicato & allegro molto from String Quartet No.4; Nils Anders Mortensen (piano): Jörg Widmann, Zirkustänze – 1. Fanfare, 2. Boogie Woogie, 3. Erster Walkzer, 7. Kinderreim, 8. Karussel-Walzer; Pavel Haas Quartet: Antonín Dvorák, String Quartet No.12 – 2. Lento & 4. Finale– vivace ma non troppo; Anna Geniushene (piano) Lukas Geniusas, (piano): Witold Lutosławski, Variations on a theme by Paganini; Roderick Williams (baritone) & Nils Mortensen (piano): W. A. Mozart, Don Giovanni: ‘Deh, vieni alla finestra’, Die Zauberflöte – ‘Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen’, Georges Bizet – Carmen: ‘Toreador-aria’.
Morning concert in the Lofoten Kulturhus: Lise de la Salle (piano): Franz Liszt, Piano Sonata in B Minor. Travel to nearby Kabelvåg for an independent lunch and visits to the Lofoten Museum and the Espolin Gallery. Onto Leknes for dinner at the Lofoten Seafood Centre, before a concert in Stamsund Church: Engegard Quartet: Beethoven, String Quartet No.12 in E flat; Roderick Williams (baritone) & Benjamin Grosvenor (piano): Robert Schumann, Frauenliebe und leben. Continue by coach for a late evening concert in Borge Church: Lukas Geniusas (piano): Robert Schumann, Davidsbündlertänze; Pavel Haas Quartet: Bohuslav Martinů, String Quartet No.5. Return to the hotel c. 11.30pm.
Morning concert in the Lofoten Kulturhus: Nils Anders Mortensen (piano): Franz Schubert, Piano Sonata in A. A cruise to Trollfjord from Svolvær. Evening concert in Lofoten Cathedral, Vågan: Roderick Williams (baritone) & Lise de la Salle (piano): Gustav Mahler, Ich atmet einen Lindenduft, Liebst du um Schönheit, Blick mir nicht in die Lieder, Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen; Almer Mahler, Bei dir ist es traut, Laue Sommernacht, Die stille Nacht; Benjamin Grosvenor (piano): Frédérik Chopin, Piano Sonata No.2 in B Minor. Return to Svolvær for a late evening concert in Svolvær Church: Arvid Engegård (violin) & Nils Anders Mortensen: Ludwig van Beethoven, Sonata for Violin and Piano No.1 in D; Pavel Haas Quartet: Ludwig van Beethoven, String Quartet No.16 in F.
Morning concert at the Lofoten Kulturhus: Engegård Quartet: Edvard Greig, String Quartet in G Minor. Following the concert, a walking tour of nearby Svinøya, a small Island located next to Svolvær. Evening concert in Buksnes Church, Gravdal: Lise de la Salle (piano): W.A. Mozart, Fantasia in C Minor, Piano Sonata in C Minor; Lief Ove Andsnes (piano) & Engegård Quartet: Piano Quintet in E Flat Major. Late evening concert in the Meieriet Kultursenter in Leknes: Lukas Geniusas (piano): George Bizet, Chants du Rhin; Leif Ove Andsnes (piano) & Peter Jarůšek: Frédéric Chopin, Etude No.7 in C Sharp Minor arr. Alexander Glazunov; Benjamin Grosvenor (piano), Amanda Horn (violin), Juliet Jopling (viola), Jan Clemens Carlsen (cello): Gabriel Fauré, Piano Quartet No.1 in C Minor. Return to the hotel by c. 12.30am.
Morning concert at the Lofoten Kulturhus: Lise de la Salle (piano) & Nils Anders Mortensen (piano): W.A. Mozart, Sonata for Two Pianos in D: Benjamin Grosvenor (piano) & Lukas Geniusas (piano): Marice Ravel, La Valse. Lunchtime concert in Svolvær Church: Nils Anders Mortensen (piano), Arvid Engegård (violin), Juliet Jopling (viola), & Jan Clemens Carlsen (cello): Robert Schumann, Piano Quartet in E Flat; Pavel Haas Quartet & Juliet Jopling (viola): Antonín Dvořák, String Quintet in E Flat. Evening concert at Lofoten Cathedral: W.A. Mozart, String Quartet in B Flat; Leif Ove Andsnes (piano): Frédéric Chopin, Piano Preludes. Return to Svolvær for a late evening concert in Lofoten Kulturhus: Pavel Haas Quartet: Erwin Schullhoff, Five Pieces for String Quartet; Leif Ove Andsnes (piano): Frédéric Chopin, Mazurka Op.17, nNo.4 in A Minor, Mazurka, Op.33, No.2 in D, Mazurka Op.30, No.4 in C Sharp Minor; Roderick Williams (baritone) & Nils Anders Mortensen (piano): Robert Schumann: Widmund, Clara Schumann, Liebst du om Schönheit; Johannes Brahms, Ständchen; Mel Bonis, Songe; Gabriel Fauré, Aprés un rêve; Roger Quilter, Love’s Philosophy; Leonard Bernstein, Somewhere. Return to the hotel by c. 11.30pm.
Morning concert at the Lofoten Kulturhus: Lukas Geniusas (piano): Frédéric Chopin, Etudes, Op.25. Free afternoon before the evening concert at Buksnes Church, Gravda: a programme by musicians who have performed during the festival. Return to the hotel by c. 10.00pm.
Fly from Svolvær to London Gatwick via Oslo, landing at c. 7.00pm.
Expert speaker
Dr Michael Downes OBE
Director of Music at the University of St Andrews, musical director of St Andrews Chorus, and founding artistic director of Byre Opera. He has lectured for the UK’s leading opera companies and writes notes for Wigmore Hall and Aldeburgh Music. Publications include books written both with and about British composer Jonathan Harvey, and a collaboration with Nike Wagner, great-granddaughter of Richard. Story of the Century, his new book on Wagner’s Ring, was published in November 2024 by Faber and was named by Presto Music as one of the five best music books of 2024; it will be published in the US by Pegasus Books in July 2025 as Wagner and the Creation of The Ring. Michael’s next book will be a biography of Elgar, to be published by Oxford University Press | www.michaeldownes.com
More tours led by Dr Michael Downes OBE
Practicalities
Two sharing: £5,890 or £5,720 without international flights on days 1 and 8. Single occupancy: £6,790 or £6,620 without international flights on days 1 and 8.
Transport by private coach; accommodation as described below; breakfasts, five dinners with wine, water and coffee; all admissions; all tips; all taxes; the services of the lecturer and tour manager.
Internal flights: domestic flights with Widerøe (economy class, DHC-8 100) from Oslo to Svolvær on day 2, and from Svolvaer to Oslo on day 8 are included in the tour price for all participants.
Grand Hotel, Oslo: 5-star hotel in the heart of the city; a short walk from the National Gallery. Thon Hotel, Svolvær: a comfortable 4-star hotel on the waterfront with fjord, harbour, or mountain views. Single rooms are doubles for sole use.
While the days are reasonably relaxed, there are several late nights where the group does not return to the hotel until between 11.30pm and 12.30am after late-evening concerts. One or two of the late evening concerts may be optional, if they are within walking distance of the hotel. In Lofoten the sun does not set in July so daylight is constant. We advise you to bring an eye mask. A good level of fitness is required when taking part in the excursions.
Average distance by coach per day: 65km.
Between 10 and 24 participants.
Before booking, please refer to the FCDO website and Travel Health Pro to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting.
Finland: Aalto & Others, 25 June–3 July 2026
Dates & prices
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2026
Date
Speaker
Price
Date:
5th - 12th July 2026
Speaker:
Dr Michael Downes OBE
Price:
from £5,720
(Based on two sharing)Testimonials
“Dr Michael Downes was very informative and entertaining. He was a delight to have on our tour and the preconcert lectures made the music more meaningful.
”
“Michael really added to our understanding and enjoyment of the music.
”
“The itinerary was delightful, with trips to beautiful towns and churches.
”
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