STAVANGER INTERNATIONAL
PIANOFESTIVAL
11-14 March 2027
EUROVISION WINNER DARA LIVE IN STAVANGER
Eurovision 2026 champion DARA brings her high-energy live show and hit “Bangaranga” to Stavanger, fresh from Bulgaria’s first-ever victory in Vienna. The evening opens with a fifth-anniversary celebration of “Byen som synger seg fram,” featuring local artists Jan Rune Holdhus and Cristel Elisabeth Smith, accompanied by a string quartet. More than a concert, the night is a benefit for Stavanger’s arts scene, with every ticket supporting new cultural initiatives and emerging local talent.
Fartein Valen -Stavanger Konserthus
14.12.2026
MARTHA ARGERICH (Opening Concert)
Martha Argerich is a living legend in the piano world and one of our time's most charismatic and uncompromising artists. On Thursday, 11 March 2027, she visits the Stavanger International Piano Festival together with the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Boian Videnoff.
Fartein Valen -Stavanger Konserthus
11.03.2027
MARTINA MEOLA
Martina Meola is one of Europe's most remarkable young piano talents. Despite her young age, she has won a number of international competitions. Martina has already performed as a soloist in major concert halls in cities such as Milan, Paris, Munich, Brussels, and Rome, and has performed piano concertos by Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven with orchestra. She is regarded as a rising star on the international piano scene and visits the Stavanger International Piano Festival 2027 as one of the festival's most exciting names.
Fartein Valen -Stavanger Konserthus
12.03.2027
SPIRITS SONGS
On March 12, 2027, pianist Petru Popa will premiere “Spirit Songs,” a newly written program, at the Stavanger International Piano Festival 2027, performing with guitarist and composer Wayne Brasel in a quartet. Popa is one of the region’s most versatile and sought-after pianists, known for harmonic depth, rhythmic drive, and improvisatory elegance, from lyrical tone paintings to complex Latin jazz rhythms. Brasel brings an authentic American jazz and blues heritage from his career in Los Angeles, and as an associate professor at the University of Stavanger he has shaped generations of guitarists. He is known for his singing tone and inventive harmonies. They are joined by Per Mathisen, nicknamed “Bass Viking,” on double bass and electric bass, who brings raw virtuosity and international experience with world-class jazz stars, and by Haugesund drummer and educator Johannes Ulveraker, whose sensitive, expressive playing ties the ensemble together. Popa calls the project a celebration of musical soul, improvisational freedom, and seamless interplay, and says premiering the repertoire with Per and Johannes will be a true highlight.
St. Petri kirke
12.03.2027
JANOSKA ENSEMBLE
The Janoska Ensemble is a genre-defying group of musicians who blur the lines between classical, jazz, and pop with virtuosic ease. Known for their emotional intelligence, playful humor, and masterful reinterpretations of familiar melodies, the ensemble consistently captivates audiences and draws enthusiastic standing ovations wherever they perform. They visit the Stavanger International Piano Festival on 12 March 2027 at Fartein Valen, Stavanger Konserthus, bringing their signature blend of technical brilliance and infectious stage energy to one of the festival's most anticipated performances.
Fartein Valen -Stavanger Konserthus
12.03.2027
MILTON BALDIZON
Milton Baldizon is a classical pianist from Guatemala, where he began his musical training, and he is now based in Norway. He earned a master’s degree in performance from UiT The Arctic University of Norway in 2012 under Professor Tori Stødle, a PPU (teacher training) qualification from the Norwegian Academy of Music in 2014, and a Postgraduate Diploma in performance from the University of Stavanger in 2020 under Professor Daniel Röhm. He has performed at international festivals including MusicFest Perugia in Italy and “Música del siglo XX” in Spain, and has given concerts as a soloist and chamber musician in Guatemala, El Salvador, Norway, Italy, and Spain. As a soloist he has appeared with Guatemala’s National Symphony Orchestra and the MusicFest Perugia Festival Orchestra, performing works by composers such as Chopin and Beethoven. He currently works as a piano teacher at Sandnes Culture School.
Sandnes Kirke
13.03.2027
Peter Bence
Peter Bence is a globally acclaimed, award-winning piano sensation, composer, and music producer. Known for his edgy, percussive, and expressive playing style, Bence has captivated audiences worldwide by breaking the boundaries between classical and popular music. He elevates the piano to new heights, transforming the instrument into a full orchestra and inspiring music lovers of all ages — his live performances have drawn thousands across the globe. He visits the Stavanger International Piano Festival on 13 March 2027 at Fartein Valen, Stavanger Konserthus.
Fartein Valen -Stavanger Konserthus
13.03.2027
Oda Voltersvik
Oda Voltersvik is a Norwegian pianist from Bergen who has performed at international festivals and venues such as Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, Wigmore Hall, Harpa, the Norwegian Opera House, and the Bergen International Festival. She won first prize at the Bradshaw & Buono International Competition in 2017, and holds a Master in Performance from the Royal College of Music in London, followed by an Artist Diploma with distinction from Trinity Laban. She visits the Stavanger International Piano Festival on 13 March 2027 at St. Petri Church with her program "Som i en drøm" — "Like in a Dream."