A-ha to perform 'Stay On These Roads' in national memorial service in Oslo

This just came in. A-ha will perform "Stay On These Roads" during tomorrow's national memorial service at Oslo Spektrum. The national memorial service comes after the attacks on the executive government quarter and Utøya, and A-ha will perform as part of the ceremony which will take place at Oslo Spektrum on August 21.

The news about A-ha's involvement was first announced on August 10th with the following statement from Morten Harket, Magne Furuholmen, and Pål Waaktaar:"On 22 July, we, like everyone else in Norway and the rest of the world, were shaken to the soul by these actions of cruelty and violent provocation against everything we stand for. We are also very proud to belong to a small country where people, politicians and the royal family worked together and showed solidarity in the face of such tragedy, and we are grateful to be asked to participate in the memorial ceremony.

We do this to honor those who have been torn away, to show appreciation to everyone who made an effort to help on July 22, and to express our sympathy to the survivors who now are left in sorrow."

The 'National Memorial Ceremony for 22 July 2011' will be held in Oslo Spektrum on Sunday 21 August. The ceremony will start at 15.00 precisely and will be hosted by Haddy N'jie. Only invited guests will be in Oslo Spektrum during the ceremony itself. The ceremony will last approximately 90 minutes. The ceremony will be broadcast live on TV channels NRK1 and NRK2, on radio stations NRK P1, P2 and P3 and on the internet www.nrk.no from 15.00. It will also be repeated on NRK1 at 21.30 the same evening.

On stage, NRK's own symphony orchestra, Kringkastingsorkesteret, will set the scene for the ceremony along with a number of artists. The artists taking part include Susanne Sundfør, Leif Ove Andsnes, Karpe Diem, Dumdum Boys, Sivert Høyem, Jarle Bernhoft, Bjørn Eidsvåg, Ingrid Olava and Sissel Kyrkjebø. A-ha will also be reunited for this day only to take part in the national memorial ceremony.

Some of Norway's well known actors will also be present to read selected poems and lyrics. These include Aksel Hennie, Anders Baasmo Christiansen, Ane Dahl Torp, Adil Kahn, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Sofie Gråbøl and Maria Bonnevie.

Posted by B. Van Isacker