Benedicte Maurseth Portrait, 2025.
Norwegian Hardanger‑fiddle Virtuoso Benedicte Maurseth brings her ground‑breaking new album Mirra to Tuggeranong Arts Centre, as part of her Debut Australian Tour.
Acclaimed Norwegian fiddler, composer and author Benedicte Maurseth, is poised to make her Australian debut this November, bringing a uniquely visionary fusion of folk tradition, ecology and experimental sound to eastern‑coast venues.
Her new album Mirra — a rich, immersive exploration of her homeland’s high‑mountain landscape, wild reindeer and Hardanger‑fiddle tradition — has received international praise and sets the stage for this landmark tour. It has been hailed by critics as an immersive modern folk masterpiece, bridging minimalism, krautrock, improvisation and folk.
Benedicte’s extraordinary evocative storytelling and deep connection to Norwegian folk traditions invites audiences into a rich and immersive landscape shaped by nature, myth, and sound. Her concert, Polar Night and Midnight Sun will be a haunting, intense evocation of Norway’s uplands and wildlife and an unforgettable evening of music.
Born in the Hardanger fjord region of southern Norway, Maurseth is widely regarded as one of the foremost exponents of the Hardanger fiddle — the national instrument of Norway. From childhood, she studied under master hardanger fiddler Knut Hamre, exploring the tunes, styles and effects associated with the instrument. Today, her work bridges tradition and innovation.
Maurseth revitalises an ancient instrument and folk tradition, infusing it with deep ecological and philosophical underpinnings — making it relevant for contemporary audiences. She teaches and performs under the ethos that passing on a tradition also means respectfully evolving it. “Music is not something that stops when I take a music degree — it’s a process for life. Teaching is also a process for life,” Maurseth said.
Her latest work, Mirra, follows her prize‑winning 2022 album Hárr and takes listeners deep into the rhythms of nature, with field recordings of wild reindeer, atmospheric landscapes and the interweaving of tradition with modern sound‑scapes. Named after an old dialect word referring to the circling migratory patterns of reindeer, Mirra captures the symbiosis of nature, culture and the human observer.
In a recent feature for ABC’s Legends program, she described her connection to place and tradition: “You don’t own this music, you borrow it for a while. I live, I die and it goes on. I know music played in this place, I know the names of the players, I feel very connected to the music, to the region,” Maurseth said.
For her upcoming tour, she will appear with a Norwegian “super‑group” featuring Morten Qvenild – keyboards & electronic processing, Mats Eilertsen – double bass & electronics and Håkon Stene – vibraphone, percussion & electronics. The tour kicks off in Bundanon and concludes at in Hobart.
Polar Night and Midnight Sun will be held at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre on Tuesday 25 November.
The Details
What: Benedicte Maurseth: Polar Night and Midnight Sun
When: Tuesday 25 November, 6 pm to 7 pm (Bar open from 5 pm)
Where: Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street North
Tickets: $55 / $50. Book tickets now.
Find out more at Tuggeranong Arts Centre.
