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6 unusual facts about Song of Norway


Song of Norway

The melody of the Norwegian National Anthem, Ja, vi elsker dette landet was actually written by Rikard Nordraak to lyrics written by the Norwegian national poet, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson.

After successful runs in Los Angeles and San Francisco, the show opened at the Imperial Theatre in New York on August 21, 1944, and ran for 860 performances.

It follows the fictionalized lives of three childhood friends: Edvard Grieg (played in New York by Lawrence Brooks), Nina Hagerup (Helena Bliss) and Rikard Nordraak (Robert Shafer).

Columbia Records made a recording in 1959 of the Jones Beach production (which opened in June 1958) with Brenda Lewis and John Reardon, which was released on CD by Masterworks Broadway.

Toralv Maurstad

It was based on a successful, but now semi-forgotten, 1944 Broadway show.

His only American film appearance (so far) was starring in the 1970 box office and critical disaster Song of Norway, a film musical about the life of composer Edvard Grieg (his co-star was Florence Henderson).


Oriental Dragon

Along with her sister ships, the Song of Norway and Nordic Prince, the class comprised the first purpose built ships intended for Caribbean based, cruise travel.

Rosemary Ashe

She can be heard on the cast recordings of The Phantom of the Opera, The Boy Friend, Bitter Sweet, Kismet, The Student Prince, Song of Norway, Oliver, The Killer Soprano, The Witches of Eastwick, Serious Cabaret, Mary Poppins amongst others.


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