Scenic Summertime Fjords of Norway
19 August 2027 for 9 Nights
With Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, guest director Jonathan Brown
Sails from Liverpool
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Cruise Code: S2715
During the peak of Norway’s nature season, uncover some of the most dramatic fjord landscapes, from towering cliffs and mirror-like waters to waterfalls feeding valleys rich with summer greenery. Glide along the steep-sided Romsdalsfjord, the glacier-fed waters of Nordfjord, and tranquil Lustrafjord, an arm of Norway’s longest fjord, Sognefjord. From Olden, trails lead to the Briksdal Glacier; in Skjolden, scenic drives reveal the peaks and lakes of Jotunheimen National Park; and in Åndalsnes, the Rampestreken viewpoint rewards with sweeping panoramas over Romsdalsfjord. In addition, you can embrace the spirit of friluftsliv – Norway’s love of the outdoors – by paddleboarding on glacial lakes or taking a RIB ride along narrow fjord arms.
Your musical director: Jonathan Brown
Jonathan’s musical journey began as a 7-year-old chorister at New College, Oxford. From there, he was awarded a music scholarship at Sherborne School, and a choral scholarship at Royal Holloway College, during which time where he began a professional singing career, which he still maintains. He has toured, recorded and broadcast extensively with a number of choirs, touring Australia, the USA and across Europe.
His teaching career has seen him leading 3 Music departments in schools for a combined 28 years! In June 2007, as Director of Music at Pangbourne College, he conducted a service from the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel, broadcast live globally on BBC1 in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and the Prime Minister, commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Falkland Islands conflict. Jonathan is now the Head of Choral and Chapel Music at Malvern College, having previously served as the Director of Music there for 10 years.
Jonathan has been a conductor of choirs and choral societies for more than nearly 20 years, and is the Musical Director of the Malvern Festival Chorus. His working repertoire is extensive with many choral greats featuring in his creative and challenging programming - performing works ranging from JS Bach to Cecilia MacDowell and Carl Rutti, and even a piece written especially for MFC’s centenary celebrations by Rory Boyle - one of its previous Musical Directors. Plans for next season include JS Bach’s St John Passion, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solonnelle and music for coronations by Handel, Parry and Elgar. Jonathan was the Chorus Master for the National Schools Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Verdi’s Requiem at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall in 2019, with whom Malvern Festival Chorus collaborated. He regularly works with professional orchestras and international soloists as well as musicians at the start of their professional careers. Jonathan also runs a Choral Consultancy service, offering help and advice on all aspects of choral work with choirs.
On the solo platform his extensive repertoire ranges from Monteverdi to Lutoslawski, and he has performed with a number of orchestras – most notably Florilegium, the Philharmonia, the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonietta.
Jonathan is married to Rebecca who is in great demand as a singing teacher, and they have two daughters - Jessica and Helen - who are both musicians but who both followed scientific pathways and who now hold PhDs. Sadly, his two cocker spaniels are now singing in the celestial choir, but were very popular contributors to online rehearsals during Lockdown…
First step: register your interest with us
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To take part in the musical activities on this cruise you need to register your interest with us before booking the cruise.