Scope and arrangement
The collection consists of noncommercial recordings of various Bergen Festival music performances from 1955 to 1966. These orchestral, choral, and chamber music concerts primarily feature Norwegian composers and performers. Edvard Grieg's music is predominant in chamber music programming. Other composers most frequently represented in the collection include Eyvind Alnaes, Sverre Bergh, Edvard Fliflet Braein, Klauss Egge, Eivind Groven, Edvard Hagerup Bull, Pauline Hall, Johan Halvorsen, Ludvig Irgens Jensen, Sverre Jordan, Arne Nordheim, Knut Nystedt, Sparre Olsen, Harald Sæverud, Christian Sinding, Øistein Sommerfeldt, Johan Severin Svendsen, Geirr Tveitt, and Fartein Valen.
Performers for chamber music recitals include Kjell Baekkelund, Ingrid Bjoner, Kim Borg, Benny Dahl-Hansen, Olav Eriksen, Kari Frisell, Ørnulf Boye Hansen, Jan Henrik Kayser, Robert Levin, Aase Nordmo Løvberg, Ole Henrik Moe, Finn Nielsen, Johan Øian, Sigbjørn Bernhoft Osa, Robert Riefling, Erna Skaug, and Arve Tellefsen.
Musikselskabet "Harmonien" of Bergen is the festival's resident orchestra. During the years represented by the collection, the orchestra was conducted by Arvid Fladmoe and Carl Garaguly. Guest conductors include Herbert Blomstedt, Sir John Barbirolli, and Sir Thomas Beecham.