A photo documentary of the rehearsals before Jon Lord's last concert in the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway, 23. May 2010. Suggested reading order for new visitors: Start with post 1, and navigate from the bottom of the post.
Jon Lord steps down from the grand piano as the rehearsals for the “To Notice Such Things” suite have ended. Solo flutist Trine Knutsen watches him.
Jon and the Lord Chamber Orchestra has finished the last rehearsal of the work of music that later in the evening would open the concert: “To Notice Such Things”. Solo flutist Trine Knutsen looks at him as he’s stepping down from the grand piano.
This was the opening suite of the album, which was released less than two monts prior to the concert, was a memorial for Jon’s close friend, Sir John Mortimer. Jon had composed and performed the music accompanying Sir John Mortimer for his stage show, “Mortimer’s Miscellany“.
There is a great interview with Jon about his friendship with Sir John Mortimer, about the suite and the album “To Notice Such Things” and about plans for the future at the website “MusicWeb International“.
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
The book is out – head to the bookstore to order your copy. There are two sizes and two bindings for each size available, from the standard sized book with soft cover, to the lavish coffee table book on high-end photo paper.
The rehearsals for the suite “To Notice Such Things” – the title work from Jon’s current album at the time.
The beginning of the rehearsals for the suite “To Notice Such Things” – the title work from Jon’s current album at the time.
This beautiful musical work, in memory of Jon’s close friend since the 1990s, Sir John Mortimer, began life when Mortimer asked Jon Lord if he might enjoy playing the piano for some of his shows. Mortimer also asked if Jon might consider writing a couple of pieces to accompany the show, which Jon did.
Offered a commission to write a new piece for solo flute and string orchestra for the Shipley Arts Festival in July 2009, still dealing with the loss of his friend, who passed in 2008, Jon thought the pieces he wrote for “Mortimer’s Miscellany” might be the basis for a new piece.
Albeit being the last piece played at the rehearsal, “To Notice Such Things“ started the concert a couple of hours later.
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
The book is out – head to the bookstore to order your copy. There are two sizes and two bindings for each size available, from the standard sized book with soft cover, to the lavish coffee table book on high-end photo paper.
Seen from behind the mixer desk: Jon Lord, Nathalie Lorichs, Sveinung Lillebjerka, Ellen Fjærvoll Samdal (I think), Åse Våg Aaknes, and conductor Torodd Wigum.
Jon Lord, Nathalie Lorichs, Sveinung Lillebjerka, Ellen Fjærvoll Samdal (I think), Åse Våg Aaknes, and conductor Torodd Wigum.
A view of the stage from behind the sound mixer desk.
Seen from left to right:
Jon Lord, vocalist Nathalie Lorichs, violinists Sveinung Lillebjerka, Ellen Fjærvoll Samdal (I think), Åse Våg Aaknes, and conductor Torodd Wigum.
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
The book is out – head to the bookstore to order your copy. There are two sizes and two bindings for each size available, from the standard sized book with soft cover, to the lavish coffee table book on high-end photo paper.
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
The book is out – head to the bookstore to order your copy. There are two sizes and two bindings for each size available, from the standard sized book with soft cover, to the lavish coffee table book on high-end photo paper.
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
The book is out – head to the bookstore to order your copy. There is two sizes and two bindings for each size available, from the standard sized book with soft cover, to the lavish coffee table book on high-end photo paper.
The song “The Sun Will Shine Again” was originally released on Jon Lord’s “Beyond the Notes” album from 2004. On the album, the song was sung by Frida from ABBA. There is a story behind it.
From the left: Jon Lord, vocalists Nathalie Lorichs and Steve Balsamo, conductor Torodd Wigum, and backing singers Karina Hanssen and Nina Brovoll.
From the left: Jon Lord, vocalists Nathalie Lorichs and Steve Balsamo, conductor Torodd Wigum, and backing singers Karina Hanssen and Nina Brovoll.
The song “The Sun Will Shine Again” was originally released on Jon Lord’s “Beyond the Notes” album from 2004. A melodic, simple ballad with an uplifting tune. On the album, the song was sung by Frida from ABBA. There is a story behind it.
I’ll tell it through the words of Christer Lorichs, father of vocalist Nathalie Lorichs, who handled the lead vocals for this concert.
“Knut Morten Johansen knew Nathalie was very familiar with the material. Asking Jon about using Nathalie as singer, Jon swiftly replied “Excellent!”. As Nathalie sung backing vocals on Jon’s concert in the Nidaros Cathedral in 2007, Jon was well aware of her voice.
One question Jon had for Nathalie during preparations for the show was regarding “The Sun Will Shine Again”. Would she prefer doing the original Frida-version, or the current version in a key suitable for Kasia Laska? Nathalie said she probably couldn’t sing in a key as low as Fridas. “Well, no one can”, Jon said with a smile. So the higher key it was.
On the first day in Trondheim, Wednesday before the show, there was a meeting with media and the first meeting with the band. Jon immediately took Nathalie aside from the rest, held her arm, looking very serious, saying: “Nathalie, I want to dedicate “The Sun Will Shine Again” to Ronnie. It is a song I wrote for Frida when her husband died. Do you think you can hold it together?”. “I hope so” Nathalie answered. “Perfect” smiled Jon.” View the song as performed during the concert.
“Ronnie” was of course the legendary rock vocalist Ronnie James Dio, known from Rainbow, Elf, Black Sabbath, and his own band Dio. Ronnie lost his battle with cancer just a week prior to this concert.
Here’s a performance of the song with Jon and Frida from German television.
And it only seems to fitting to add this cut:
Ronnie James Dio singing the beautiful songs “Sitting in a Dream” and “Love is All” from Roger Glover’s “Butterfly’s Ball” with Deep Purple and the London Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in 1999, for the 30th anniversary for Jon’s “Concerto for Group and Orchestra”:
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
The book is out – head to the bookstore to order your copy. There is two sizes and two bindings for each size available, from the standard sized book with soft cover, to the lavish coffee table book on high-end photo paper.
From the left: Jon Lord, vocalists Nathalie Lorichs and Steve Balsamo, conductor Torodd Wigum, and backing singers Karina Hanssen and Nina Brovoll.
Seen from the left: Jon Lord at the grand piano, vocalists Nathalie Lorichs and Steve Balsamo, conductor Torodd Wigum, as well as backing singers Karina Hanssen and Nina Brovoll. The Lord Chamber Orchestra behind the, with the wonderful arches and the mighty rose window of the Nidaros Cathedral forming a stunning backdrop.
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
The book is out – head to the bookstore to order your copy. There is two sizes and two bindings for each size available, from the standard sized book with soft cover, to the lavish coffee table book on high-end photo paper.
Conductor Torodd Wigum leading the orchestra through the closing crescendo of “Child in Time”, with Jon Lord in the background.
As the end of “Child in Time” is building towards the finishing crescendo, conductor Torodd Wigum is fiercly leading the orchestra, Jon Lord seen towards the back on the right hand side.
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
The book is out – head to the bookstore to order your copy. There is two sizes and two bindings for each size available, from the standard sized book with soft cover, to the lavish coffee table book on high-end photo paper.
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
The book is out – head to the bookstore to order your copy. There is two sizes and two bindings for each size available, from the standard sized book with soft cover, to the lavish coffee table book on high-end photo paper.
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
The book is out – head to the bookstore to order your copy. There is two sizes and two bindings for each size available, from the standard sized book with soft cover, to the lavish coffee table book on high-end photo paper.
