Sissel Northern Lights

NORTHERN LIGHTS: AN EVENING WITH SISSEL AND FRIENDS

This program was filmed from two live performances that took place in
the landmark Roros church in Roros, Norway. At various points in the
program, we see scenes of the town, the mountains surrounding it, the
historic church and the local townspeople. At times, there are shots of
Sissel outside in the snow.
This is the third Sissel concert to air on public television. The first
was Sissel in Concert: All Good Things (March, 2003); Sissel: In
Paradise followed in March, 2005. Additionally, Christmas with the
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Sissel, will air on December 19, 2007.

Sissel Kyrkjebo (pronounced SHEAR-shuh-buh) or (SHU-sha-ba) was born June 24, 1969 in
Bergen, Norway. At the age of 10 she had begun singing in several
talent competitions. When she was only 14 she performed in a childrens
television program, and appearances on other television programs
followed. A video of Sissel was broadcast to viewers all over Europe,
bringing her greater popularity and recognition.

In 1984, at the age of 15, she released her first album, self-titled Sissel. It
became the highest-selling album in Norway ever. In 1987, she released
a Christmas album. By 1988, Sissel was performing in Oslo, playing the
leading role as Maria von Trapp in the Norwegian version of The Sound
of Music. She later toured in Norway with the musical, and sang as
Ariel in the Norwegian, Swedish and Danish versions of Disneys The
Little Mermaid. She released another album, Soria Moria.

In 1992, she collaborated with Neil Sedaka and they toured throughout
Norway. That year, she appeared at the Olympic Games in Albertville.
Soon after, Sissel married Danish entertainer Eddie Skoller. (Sissel
was so popular by then that the wedding received a lot of attention
from the Norwegian and Danish press.) In 1994 Sissel sang the official
Olympic song Fire In Your Heart in Lillehammer. That same year,
Placido Domingo invited her to perform at the annual Christmas concert
in Vienna with Charles Aznavour and himself. The televised concert was
broadcast all throughout Europe. In 1995, she sang for Prince Charles
in A Royal Gala.

In 1997, Sissel was a featured soloist for the U.S. recording of the musical score for Titanic. By the end of 1998, Titanic has premiered throughout the world. Composer James Horner wanted Sissel to sing the title song 'My heart will go on' but was over ruled. In the U.S., where
Sissel was almost unknown before the movie, the Wall Street Journal,
USA Today, Entertainment Weekly and other influential newspapers had
taken notice of Sissel, suddenly bringing interviews and articles about
the Norwegian songbird.

By 2000, Sissel was the mother of two young girls, but her career continued to advance. She recorded All Good Things, represented Norway at the Nobel Peace Prize concert, and
sang on a new album for the Danish rock band, Sort Sol. By 2002, Sissel
recorded two duets with tenor Placido Domingo, and she performed to sold-out concerts in Denmark. Sissel performed with both Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras on television.
She sang at the royal wedding of Norways Princess Martha Louise and
Ari Behn, which was broadcast live on television. During the fall of
2002, she released Sissel in the U.S., her solo debut in the U.S. In
2004, Sissel toured with The Lord of the Rings Symphony tour. That
year, she released her second album, My Heart, in the U.S. and did a
limited tour of fourteen U.S. cities.
Sissel has sold some five million copies of her solo albums, which have been certified gold and platinum in Norway, Denmark and Sweden. In February 2007 Sissel received the
Norwegian Grammy Award of Great Honor (the youngest Norwegian performer
ever to receive the award).
Roros, Norway
The 17th century village of Roros is located in northern Norway has
garnered the title of an UNESCO World Heritage site. Beginning in the
mid-17th century, the town was home to a large copper mine that grew at
a rapid pace. Mining experts from Denmark and Germany poured into the
town. Throughout the mines 333 years of history (it closed in 1986),
Roros Copperworks played a major economic role in the Danish/Norwegian
kingdom. This town, known for its craftsmen, courtyards and workshops,
boasts a rare collection of large and well-preserved wooden buildings
still in use today.
Roros Church
This white stone church, built in 1784, is the fourth largest in
Norway, seating 1,600 people. Its been designated by the Directorate
of Cultural Heritage as among the ten most important churches in the
country.