A 1866 performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra—then known as Musikselskabet Harmonien—established Nina Grieg as a professional soloist. Born in Bergen in 1845, she spent her career as a soprano, pianist, and academic musician, eventually securing her reputation as the definitive interpreter of the works composed by her husband, Edvard Grieg.
Professional Partnership
Nina Grieg married her first cousin, Edvard Grieg, on 11 June 1867, in Copenhagen. The couple traveled extensively throughout Europe, presenting concert programs that highlighted his compositions. Edvard Grieg regarded her as the foremost performer of his vocal music. Among her notable appearances was a private recital held on 6 December 1897 at Windsor Castle, where she performed for Queen Victoria and members of the British court.
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Her influence extended to other composers of the era. Frederick Delius dedicated two distinct sets of songs to her between 1888 and 1890. While she never pursued a professional studio recording career, two amateur wax cylinder recordings of her voice survived and were released on the Simax label. These archival documents, though technically limited in quality, provide a rare auditory record of her interpretive style.
Final Years
Following the death of her husband in 1907, Grieg relocated from their home at Troldhaugen to Copenhagen. During her later years, she maintained her affiliation with the Unitarian church. She died in 1935 at the age of 90. Following her cremation, her ashes were interred alongside those of Edvard Grieg within a mountain tomb situated near their former residence at Troldhaugen.
Fast facts
- Born: 1845, Bergen, Norway
- Died: 1935, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Spouse: Edvard Grieg
- Marriage date: 11 June 1867
- Primary occupations: Singer, pianist, composer
- Burial site: Troldhaugen, Norway
- Notable performance: Windsor Castle, 1897
Questions readers ask
Did Nina Grieg leave any professional studio recordings?
No, she did not record professionally, though two amateur wax cylinder recordings have been preserved and released on the Simax label.
Where is Nina Grieg buried?
She was cremated, and her ashes were placed in a mountain tomb at Troldhaugen near Bergen.
Achievements
- Instruments: piano and voice
