TRIO MEDIÆVAL
The crystalline voices of Trio Mediæval have captivated audiences since the group was founded by Linn Andrea Fuglseth in Oslo in 1997. The Grammy-nominated trio’s core repertoire features sacred monophonic and polyphonic medieval music from England, Italy and France; contemporary works written for the ensemble; and traditional Norwegian, Swedish and Icelandic ballads and songs. The group’s fruitful relationship with the legendary ECM Records, collaborative spirit, and busy touring schedule has earned them worldwide renown.
A typical Trio Mediæval programme combines their many varied strands of musical exploration: historically informed performance of medieval sacred music, folk music (adapted and arranged by members of the group); contemporary Nordic jazz; specially commissioned works; improvisation with or without instruments. The trio has collaborated with a multitude of contemporary composers including Helena Tulve, Tõnu Kõrvits, Anders Jormin, Tord Gustavsen, Mats Eilertsen, Trygve Seim, Anna Clyne, Gavin Bryars, Ivan Moody, Sungji Hong and Andrew Smith, among many others. A 2006 collaboration with the Ensemble Musikfabrik in Cologne featured the work Shelter by Julia Wolfe, Michael Gordon and David Lang of the New York-based Bang on a Can composers’ collective. This collaboration led to many more projects including Julia Wolfe’s “Steel Hammer” (2009) composed for the trio and Bang on a Can All-Stars. The piece has been performed in the US and Europe (in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Barbican Centre/LSO, Concertgebouw Brugge, Elbphilharmonie, Amare Den-Haag, Uppsala Konsert & Kongress). The Bang on a Can collaboration also resulted in the full orchestral piece “Reason to believe” by David Lang, that Trio Mediæval and The Norwegian Radio Orchestra premiered in Oslo in October 2011. David Lang’s piece “just (after song of songs)” was composed for the trio and Garth Knox trio in 2014 and was featured in Paolo Sorrentino’s movie “Youth”.
More recently the trio has collaborated with musicians and orchestras such as Catalina Vicens, Vox Clamantis, Avanti! Chamber Orchestra, Kamus Quartet, Arve Henriksen, Sinikka Langeland Ensemble, Mats Eilertsen Trio, Grauschumaker Piano Duo & Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Bang on a Can All-Stars, the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and Stavanger Symphony Orchestra.
Trio Mediæval has toured extensively in Europe and USA, and has visited Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, and Australia. The group has performed in a variety of venues: churches, cathedrals, monasteries, farms, clubs, industrial spaces, private homes, outdoor arenas and museums and has been invited to appear on the most prestigious stages in the world, including Wigmore Hall, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Vienna Konzerthaus, Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. After releasing seven recordings on ECM Records between 2001 and 2017, the trio began a collaboration with Morten Lindberg and the 2L label in Norway. The ensemble has now released three albums on 2L: Solacium (2021), An Old Hall Ladymass (2023) and YULE (2024). Trio Mediæval became a member of the European Early Music Network REMA in 2025.
Trio Mediæval consists of founder members Linn Andrea Fuglseth and Anna Maria Friman, and Jorunn Lovise Husan who joined the group in 2018. From the Autumn of 2025 Ditte Marie Bræin is alternating with Linn Andrea Fuglseth.
ANNA MARIA FRIMAN
Anna Maria Friman from Gothenburg, Sweden, works as a freelance singer in project based chamber music ensembles as well as with choirs and orchestras. Many of her ensemble engagements include performances of different musical styles, crossing borders between early, folk, improvisation and contemporary music. With her regular groups Trio Mediæval, Friman-Ambrosini-Vicens Trio and Alternative History Quartet she has recorded 12 albums for ECM Records.
In 2010 Friman completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Music at the University of York, UK where she researched the modern performance of medieval music by women. She also taught singing and coached vocal ensembles at the University and further through the years she has enjoyed giving vocal masterclasses and choir/ensemble workshops at different academic institutions in Europe and USA, teaching at summer courses as well as coaching individuals and groups. From 2001-2015 she was a jury member at the vocal ensemble competition the Tampere International Choral Festival in Finland. Friman also plays the Hardanger fiddle and writes vocal arrangements of folk- and medieval songs, published by Wessmans Musikförlag.
Foto: Åsa Maria Mikkelsen
Foto: Åsa Maria Mikkelsen
LINN ANDREA FUGLSETH
Linn Andrea Fuglseth is originally from Sandefjord, but lives in Oslo, Norway. She has a Masters Degree in vocal performance from the Norwegian Academy of Music and Diploma in Advanced Solo Studies in Early Music from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. In October 1997 Fuglseth founded Trio Mediæval and is touring extensively with the group, as well as recording and coaching. Fuglseth’s solo engagements include performances with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, the Norwegian Baroque Orchestra, Norwegian Soloists' Choir and Rolf Lislevand Ensemble. Fuglseth started, and has since 2004 conducted Bolteløkka Jentekor in Oslo, a school choir for girls aged 6-13. For this work she has received several prizes, including Childrens' Choir Conductor of the year by Ung i Kor Norway in 2015. Since 2020 Fuglseth is the conductor of Oslo International Womens Choir, focusing on international folk music. She writes vocal arrangements of folk songs, published by Norsk Musikkforlag. Fuglseth has received Government Grants for Artists from Arts and Culture Norway for a period of three years.
JORUNN LOVISE HUSAN
Jorunn Lovise Husan joined the Trio Mediaeval in June 2018. Husan has an extensive experience as an ensemble singer and chamber music performer. In addition to Trio Mediæval she regularly performs with the Stavanger based vocal octet Valen Vokalensemble. For many years she was a member of the Norwegian Soloists' Choir as well as the renowned Norwegian vocal sextet Pust, that focuses on their own compositions and arrangements inspired by ballads, jazz and folk music. Her interest in folk - and contemporary music resulted in a Masters degree in vocal performance at the Norwegian Academy of Music (2010) where she specialized in the art of interpretation of folk music elements in Norwegian contemporary music. In addition to her solo appearances touring with contemporary music ensembles such as BIT20 Ensemble and premiering Marcus Paus opera “Heksene”, she regularly performs alto solo parts from the main church music repertoire. Jorunn Lovise Husan is originally from Rennebu, but lives in Stavanger where she is a teacher at the music department at Stavanger Katedralskole, and conducts the Stavanger Cathedral Girls’ Choir.
Foto: Åsa Maria Mikkelsen
FORMER MEMBERS
-
TORUNN ØSTREM OSSUM
Member from 1997-2013
Discography:
Words of the Angel (2001)
Soir, dit-elle (2004)
Stella maris (2005)
Folk Songs (2007)
A Worcester Ladymass (2011)
Steel Hammer (2014)
-
BERIT OPHEIM
Member from 2013-2018
Discography:
Aquilonis (2014)
Just (2015)
The Magical Forest (2016)
Concerti III/John Adams (2017)
Rímur (2017)