Elysian Fields Fuses North And South, Jazz And Classical
Acclaimed Norwegian jazz pianist and composer Jan Gunnar Hoff will make his Australian debut in two Sydney concerts in October in collaboration with Sydney-based Scandinavian-inspired ensemble Elysian Fields.
The Sydney concerts mark the culmination of a long-standing creative partnership between Hoff and Sydney-based viola da gambist Jenny Eriksson, founder and leader of Elysian Fields.
One of the leading figures in European jazz, Steinway Artist Hoff served as arranger, pianist and musical director for the Grammy-nominated album Quiet Winter Night (2013) and was nominated for a Norwegian Grammy in 2014.
The Utzon Room program Northern Lands (Saturday 3, October), features Hoff’s signature composition Fly North, a jazz interpretation of the Beach Boys’ God Only Knows and Barndomsminne fra Nordland, a traditional song deeply connected to Norwegian cultural identity. Duos with Jenny Eriksson include Hoff’s Living and Vaapstenjeanoe (Big River) along with a new arrangement of the Scottish Australian folk song, Johnny Faa.
On Friday 9 October at 7:30pm, Hoff and Elysian Fields will unite for Northern Lights – Southern Cross at The Lounge, Concourse Theatre, one-night-only of soaring soundscapes and musical poetry, fusing Nordic jazz, folk lyricism and neo-baroque. The performance will feature the world premiere of a new work by Jan Gunnar Hoff commissioned by Eriksson and Elysian Fields, and Hoff’s Living and Meditatus, Elysian Fields featured both works on its 2020 FIKA album.
Elysian Fields musicians performing with Hoff at The Concourse include Susie Bishop (voice/violin), Loretta Palmeiro (saxophones), Jenny Eriksson (electric viola da gamba), Jacques Emery (double bass) and Rease Cameron (drums).
Read our review of Elysian Fields’ 2020 FIKA album.
Northern Lands – Jan Gunnar Hoff piano with Jenny Eriksson on electric viola da gamba
Venue: Sydney Opera House, Utzon Room
Date & Time:4pm 3 October 2026
Northern Lights – Southern Cross
Jan Gunnar Hoff joins Sydney’s Scandinavian-inspired six-piece ensemble Elysian Fields
Venue: The Concourse, The Lounge
Date & Time: 7:30pm, Friday 9 October 2026