Biography

Edvard Grieg was born in the city of Bergen, Norway. He inherited his talent and musical talent from his mother, since she was well educated and had wide musical horizon. Grieg's mother taught her son to play the piano, thanks to these studies Grieg created his first opus already at the age of 12-13.

Grieg graduated from the Leipzig Conservatory and in 1862 performed his four piano pieces that became his first published work. In the spring of 1863, Grieg went to Copenhagen, where he found a mentor in composition - the head of the Scandinavian music school, the Danish composer Niels Wilhelm Gade. In Copenhagen, Grieg were closely acquainted with Scandinavian art - music, literature, fine arts and organized the musical association "Evterpa". Its mission was to acquaint the public with the work of Scandinavian composers. During this period, Grieg created his only sonata for the piano and his first violin sonata. In Copenhagen, after a long separation, Grieg meet his cousin, singer Nina Hagerup, who became his closest creative ally of the composer, who subtly interpreted his vocal works, but his wife as well. It was to her that he dedicated one of his most famous songs - Ich Liebe dich (I Love You).

In 1866, Grieg organized a concert in Oslo, where his violin and piano sonatas were performed. This concert strengthened Grieg’s credibility in the society - he received a conductor’s post of the philharmonic association.

In 1871, Grieg founded a music association for organizing more concerts and popularize the work of Norwegian composers. The composer communicated with the progressive figures of Norwegian culture and became the member of the general movement for its development. During this period, his work acquired maturity. In 1868, he created his most famous musical work - a concert for piano and orchestra A-minor that he performed for the first time in 1869. The first notebook of "Lyrical plays" was created in this period. It became his favorite type of piano music.

One of Grieg's key works is the music for Ibsen's drama "Peer Gynt", written in January 1874 following the suggestion of the writer himself. The success among the public was great, and Grieg's music began to gain popularity in Europe.

In the spring of 1877, Grieg settled in his own estate. The Norwegian government provided Grieg with a lifelong pension for the merits to the Fatherland. In 1885, he moved to Troldhaugen near Bergen, where he lived until his death. In the period from 1891 to 1901, Grieg created six notebooks of Lyrical plays, several vocal cycles, Symphonic dances.

Being the first classic of Norwegian academic music, Grieg glorified his country and put it in line with the leading European music schools.