This day, 7th of June marks the end of the union between Norway and Sweden 1814-1905. In order to mark the 100th anniversary of the peaceful dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden a lot of festivities is being held in particularly Norway this week. The musical entertainment features a lot of artists from the history of both the Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix and Swedish Melodifestivalen.
Wig Wam inaugurates a Norwegian-Swedish bridge
The Norwegian participants this year at the Eurovision Song Contest, Wig Wam will hold a special �bridge opening concert� on 11th of June. The bridge called Svinesundsbron is one of the largest road projects in Scandinavia recently. The bridge connects Norway and Sweden and therefore the opening date has been chosen to suite the historical connection with the union dissolution.
Since the bridge construction has been a joint venture between Norway and Sweden, the musical entertainment will therefore feature artists from both countries. Melodifestivalen artist Lotta Engberg, (participating six times and also the Swedish representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 1987) will enter the stage immediately after Wig Wams concert this Saturday.
Already on the Friday, 10th of June, there will be extensive festivities in connection to the bridge opening. Concerts featuring Melodi Grand Prix and Melodifestivalen artists such as for example Elisabeth Andreasson, Peter Jöback and Robert Wells will be held. The main activity on Friday is the official inauguration of the bridge marked with the meeting and handshake between the Swedish and Norwegian kings right on the middle of the new bridge.
Swedish day in Oslo
The hundred-year marking will feature a lot of celebrations and festivities in all major cities in Norway. In Oslo there will be many concerts held throughout week. On Friday the 10th, there will be a special Swedish theme day in Oslo celebrated with a big open-air concert on the main square in Oslo, (Rådhusplassen). A lot of the artists are well known names from both Melodifestivalen and Melodi Grand Prix. Mentioned on the official programme are Carola, Nanne Grönvall and Elisabeth Andreasson, Peter Jöback and Robert Wells. The Swedish and Norwegian kings will also pay a visit to the concert and greet all the people that have gathered for this historical occasion in Oslo.
Norway and Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is very popular both in Norway and Sweden. These days there are a lot of nostalgic people who are dreaming of a new union between Sweden and Norway. But they seems to have forgotten one important thing� Thanks to the dissolution of the union back in 1905, Sweden and Norway can now celebrate many years with great music created thanks to existence of both Melodifestivalen and Melodi Grand Prix.
Sweden and Norway have continued with peaceful co-operation that has been manifested in for example the history of Eurovision Song Contest as well with many music and artistic exchanges and collaborations between the countries. Of course the friendship between the countries have many ttimes been noticed when it comes to the voting in the Eurovision Song Contest�
