Though some music lovers in the United States might not be familiar with the name Sissel Kyrkjebo, they likely have heard her voice. The Norwegian singer won praise for her performances in the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, and hers was the ethereal voice in the soundtrack of the movie "Titanic." She has also appeared on concert specials on PBS television.
Sissel, who goes by her first name, will bring her music to Utah for a concert Saturday, in the de Jong Concert Hall at Brigham Young University. The event is sponsored by the BYU Norwegian Scholarship Program. Tickets are $12, available at the Harris Fine Arts Ticket Office, 801-422-7664. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
In addition, Sissel will appear with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on its broadcast Sunday, in a program featuring Norwegian music in recognition of Norway's centennial celebration this year. Those in attendance at the Conference Center broadcast, which airs at 9:30 a.m., will be treated to some extra musical numbers by Sissel following the televised program.
With almost a dozen albums to her credit, and more than 8 million copies of those albums sold worldwide, Sissel has also performed with operatic superstars Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras and Bryn Terfel and has appeared at New York's Carnegie Hall and on the "Late Show With David Letterman," "Good Morning America" and National Public Radio.
Born in Bergen in 1969, Sissel discovered her love of music at age 9, when she joined her first children's choir. She won her first talent competition in 1980 and soon gained recognition for performances in a variety of musical genres, ranging from country to classical to rock.