Having spent the summer searching for Carl Espen’s successor, broadcaster NRK has today confirmed that next year’s Melodi Grand Prix will take place on March 14 at the Oslo Spektrum Arena. However, this is not the only major announcement…
Return Of The Orchestra
As we approach Eurovision’s 60th anniversary, NRK has decided to mark the occasion by bringing back the live orchestra after a 17-year absence. The 54-piece NRK Concert Orchestra will take centre stage at the Spectrum Arena. NRK Director General Thor Gjermund Eriksen says:
“At NRK we are so lucky to have our own orchestra. We wish to use it in programs that have a wide appeal. We want to produce events that stand out so this is a nice way to make Melodi Grand Prix even bigger”.
The orchestra last appeared in 1998, having first introduced to Melodi Grand Prix in 1960.
Endelig kan vi løfte på sløret! Tilbake til røttene! One night only! Slik blir neste års MGP: http://t.co/7Cwix3hxrA #nrkmgp #Eurovision
— Melodi Grand Prix (@NRKmgp) November 11, 2014
Winner Takes It All
NRK has decided to scrap the semi-final format and focus their attention on the winner-takes-all final. Project Manager Stian Malme however, hasn’t ruled out the return of the semi-finals in the future.
“We have arranged Semi-Finals for nine years and they have been a success. This year we are choosing to put all our resources into producing a huge party at the Oslo Spektrum with no expense spared. I think the audience will appreciate this. What the future will bring, I don’t know, but we are working continiously to reinvent Melodi Grand Prix. I don’t think the Semi-Finals have been buried for ever”.
As a result, the broadcaster has revealed that a whopping 800 entries have been submitted — that’s 30% more than last year! It has also given the judging panel an even harder task of whittling it down to just 10 finalists, compared to 15 last year. Although music chief Vivi Stenberg isn’t revealing the lucky ten just yet.
“The artists won’t be able to ‘warm up’ on a smaller stage like they did in the Semi-Finals, so those chosen to take party must take to the stage at the Oslo Spektrum and deliver the maximum. It’s really exciting”.
Join In The Fun
You can also be in the audience and experience it all at the Oslo Spectrum Arena! A small number of tickets have been released today, see Billettservice.no for availability. The rest will go on sale when the stage design has been decided.
What do you think of NRK’s plans for Melodi Grand Prix 2015?
The orchestra is coming back … wow … wow … wow … I still need to pitch myself to believe it … only God know what this can do as far as influencing Eurovision. Semi-finals out of the way this time … I couldn’t care less.
These are good news! – Let’s hear it for the orchestra! – And some good arrangements…
YESSSSSS!!! The orchestra!!! Instrumentation that isn’t limited to a pre-recorded backing track! 😀
This is great !