Urban experiences meets raw Arctic nature
Tromsø
Cathedral of Light – The Sound of Summer in Tromsø with Artists from Around the World
The Arctic Cathedral
The Arctic Cathedral
The Arctic Cathedral
The Arctic Cathedral
The Arctic Cathedral
Prices from
200 NOK
per person
High in the far north, in Tromsø – at that magical time of year when the sun never sets – you are invited to take a seat beneath the striking arches of the Arctic Cathedral and experience unforgettable music bathed in the golden glow of the midnight sun.
General information
Every Tuesday and Thursday at 9 PM (21:00), internationally acclaimed organists, choirs and soloists present a 45-minute concert, creating intimate and memorable musical moments in this unique setting.
During the organ concerts, a live video projection of the organist at the console is displayed on the white walls behind the altar. This allows you not only to hear the powerful Grønlund organ – with its 42 stops and nearly 3,000 pipes – but also to witness the artistry behind the performance.
This summer, we are also delighted to welcome visiting choirs from Japan, Sweden and the United States.
Highlights of the programme include a vibrant collaboration between organ and saxophone featuring the Polish duo Hanna Dys and Szymon Zawodny, as well as a special “lying-down” concert of Bach’s Goldberg Variations arranged for organ. For this unique experience, performed by German organist Kai Krakenberg, the audience is invited to bring a blanket, settle in, and enjoy the music from a completely new perspective within this iconic space.
On 28 July, Professor Dr Jens Korndörfer (USA) will perform a concert in honour of Johann Sebastian Bach’s day of death (28 July 1750). The series concludes with a world premiere performance by German pianist and composer Ulrike Haage together with the cathedral’s organist, Thorsten Ahlrichs: Alles Licht! / Everything is Light!
For full program details, artists, ticket information, and dates, please check our schedule.
Prices from
200 NOK per person
About The Arctic Cathedral
Modern church architecture. The Arctic Cathedral is a daring piece of architecture built in 1965, inspired by Arctic nature. The "Return of Christ" glass mosaic window dominates the interior.
The cathedral
Tromsdalen Church, also known as Ishavskatedralen (The Arctic Cathedral) was dedicated on November 19, 1965. Architect Jan Inge Hovig succeeded in creating a masterpiece. The cathedral is a landmark visible from the Tromsø Sound, the Tromsø Bridge and when landing in Tromsø by aircraft. The 11 aluminium-coated concrete panels on each side of the roof provide the cathedral’s form.
The main entrance on the western side is surrounded by a large glass façade with a pronounced cross. The fantastic glass mosaic on the eastern side was added in 1972. The glass mosaic is one of artist Victor Sparre’s most prominent works. It depicts God’s hand from which departs three rays of light: one through Jesus, one through a woman and one through a man. The glass work contains many symbols and generates considerable attention among our visitors.
The oak pews, the large prism chandeliers, the altar rail and pulpit are the most significant fittings, all of which are in a style that agrees with the cathedral’s severity and simplicity.
The organ
The cathedral’s organ was built in 2005 by Grönlunds Orgelbyggeri. It has three manuals and pedal and 42 stops, and is built in the French Romantic tradition. The organ is adapted to the cathedral’s architecture in a masterly fashion and provides associations with sails and ice floes. The organ comprises 2940 pipes, the longest of which measures 32 feet (9.6 m) and the smallest just 5 mm. Much of the woodwork is in solid pine and the bellows are made of reindeer hide.
The Arctic Cathedral
Phone: +47 410 08 470
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://ishavskatedralen.no/en/
Hans Nilsens vei 41, 9020 Tromsø
Phone: +47 410 08 470
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://ishavskatedralen.no/en/
Hans Nilsens vei 41, 9020 Tromsø