Sara Chen and Ole Christian Haagenrud Photo: Ingrid Ch. Sandnæs
At the concert in Ljubljana Sara and Ole Christian opened beautifully by performing Sonata nr. 2 in G-major, op.13, by Edvard Grieg and Ole Christian followed up impressingly with a solo playing ballade nr. 1 in G-minor, op 23, by Frederic Chopin. After a small break they both performed another sonata by Grieg, nr. 3 in C-minor, op 45, followed by a vivacious and inspired Carmen Fantasie by Franz Waxman.
Both musicians have a long list of performances and excellent reviews by critics. In 2008 they won the 1st price for duos in the Norwegian Music Competition for Youth. They both started their music career early. Sara is 19 years old and has played the violin and the piano since she was five. Ole Christian is 20 years old and has played the piano since he was six.
The concert hall at the City Hall in Ljubljana was almost filled with people both from the music academy in Ljubljana, diplomacy and civil society. Many were impressed by the great performance done by the two Norwegians talents, who we will for certain hear more about in the future. After the concert all present, including the musicians, were invited for reception in the wine cellar at the City Hall.
Ole Christian Haagenrud Photo: Ingrid Ch. Sandnæs
Both Sara and Ole Christian have dedicated their life to music and they both want to keep on with playing wonderful music all over the world. Since 2005 Sara has been a student of Stephan Barrat-Due at the Department of Conservatory at the Barratt-Due Institute of Music in Oslo, where also Ole Christian is a pupil. He is part of the Young Talents group at Barratt-Due Institute and he is also studying with Jens Harald Bratlie and Leif Ove Andsnes at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo. Jens Harald and Leif Ove are both well recognized piano players in Norway and internationally.
Stephan Barratt-Due is a very famous name within music, especially in Norway. He is a third-generation violinist from the famous musical family Barratt-Due. He is a desired conductor not only in Norway, but also internationally. Since 1985 he has also been the artistic manager of the Barratt-Due Institute of Music in Oslo, which is the most recognized Institute of Music in Norway.