NRK has confirmed to esctoday.com that the first semi final of Melodi Grand Prix 2008, the Eurovision Song Contest selection show in Norway, will take place at Stavanger. They have also informed us that the stage design for the 2008 competition will be created by the world renowned British based Peter Bingemann and that the host of the shows will be Per Sundnes, the commentator for Norway in Helsinki this year.
Stavenger will be the host of Norway's opening semi final in the hunt for the country's 2008 Eurovision Song Contest entry. The venues of the other semi finals and final were announced on esctoday.com in September. The venue in Stavanger will, esctoday.com has learnt, be in a huge tent covering almost 4000 square meters and will take several weeks to build.
Peter Bingemann will be the stage designer for the 2008 show. His previous work includes the Concert for Diana and Live8 events at Wembley Stadium. Previous music shows incude the MOBO and MTV Awards and his work in Europe includes The Noble Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, The Laureus Sports Awards in Lisbon and Fashion Rocks in Monaco.
Per Sundnes, the Norwegian commentator at the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki has tonight been confirmed as the next host of Norway's national selection show, Melodi Grand Prix. He was also a roving reporterfor the 2007 show, meeting local fans in the host cities of the competition.
The full dates and venues announced for Melodi Grand Prix 2008
- 11th January 2008 Semi final 1, Stavanger
- 18th January 2008 Semi final 2, Kongsvinger
- 25th January 2008 Semi final 3, Bodø
- 6th February 2008 Last Chance round, venue TBC
- 9th February 2008 Melodi Grand Prix Final, Spektrum, Oslo
