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Lofoten Festival - Chamber music above the Arctic Circle
8
days
from
£6,090
Book today with a deposit from
£914
4th - 11th July 2027
Tour highlights
- International artists including Marc-André Hamelin, Anna Fedorova, Marmen Quartet, Thomas Bauer, Dénes Várjon, Klaus Mäkelä, Akela String Quartet, Nikita Khnykin, 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 2027 includes Marc-André Hamelin, Anna Fedorova, Marmen Quartet, Thomas Bauer, Dénes Várjon, Klaus Mäkelä, Akela String Quartet, Nikita Khnykin 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 Trollfjord, experiencing the unique Norwegian landscape.
The full programme will be published in February 2027.
Itinerary
Fly in the morning 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 in the early afternoon from Oslo to Svolvær (Widerøe). The remaining 6 nights are spent in the pretty coastal town of Svolvær.
The final programme will be announced in the new year. There will be a selection of visits in the region planned around the performances
Fly from Svolvær to London Gatwick, via Oslo, landing in the early evening.
Expert speaker
Dr Michael Downes OBE
Director of Music at the University of St Andrews, 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 2024 by Faber. It was named by Presto Music as one of the five best music books of that year and described by Gramophone magazine as ‘the best introduction to The Ring out there’; it was published in the US in 2025 by Pegasus as Wagner and the Creation of The Ring, and an Italian translation is forthcoming. Michael’s next book will be a biography of Elgar, to be published by Oxford University Press.
More tours led by Dr Michael Downes OBE
Practicalities
Two sharing: £6,280 or £6,090 without flights. Single occupancy: £7,180 or £6,990 without flights.
Transport by private coach; accommodation as described below; breakfasts, 6 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 Svolvær 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 occupancy 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.
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.
Dates & prices
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2027
Date
Speaker
Price
Date:
4th - 11th July 2027
Speaker:
Dr Michael Downes OBE
Price:
from £6,090
(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's lectures accommodated all levels of musical knowledge with ease. The lectures were enlightening on context, the composers and musical history. He has a very nice delivery and style.
”
“The Lofoten Festival will be one of the most memorable Martin Randall tours which we have done. The music was out of this world and we really appreciated the opportunity to experience the scenery of the Lofoten Islands.
”
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