Bel Canto

The Norwegian duo Bel Canto was formed in the Norwegian city of Tromsø in 1985 by vocalist Anneli Drecker, multi-instrumentalist Nils Johansen (synth, violin, bass and guitar) and Geir Jenssen (synth, programming). Known for their distinctive electronica and synth based landscapes, their atmospheric and melancholic melodies met elements of folk music from all corners of the globe. Having released six studio albums, Bel Canto is now expecting the release of their seventh.

In many ways Bel Canto were pioneers and the start of the now known arctic wave of electronic music with its innovative use of computers as the central ingredients to their compositions. They were one of the first Norwegian artists to be signed to an international record label, leading the trio to move to Brussel in 1986, and a short year after that the release of their debut album “White-Out Conditions” (Crammed Discs). After their followup “Birds of Passage” (1989) Jenssen left to pursue a solo career under the name Biosphere. “Shimmering, Warm & Bright” (1992) was their breakthrough album in Norway followed up with the award winning “Magic Box” (1996, Warner), “Rush” 1998, EMI) and lastly “Dorothy´s Victory” (2002, EMI).

Separately the members of Bel Canto have made music for both film and theatre. Anneli Drecker has released four solo albums with four Norwegian Grammy nominations (Spellemann) and over many years have contributed both on stage and in the studio for other artists such as Röyksopp, A-ha and Ketil Bjørnstad. Nils Johansen has composed music for TV and film and a founding member of the Norwegian-Sami group Vajas. 2011 saw the duo reunite with Geir Jenssen for a short tour in Norway where the original trio performed for the first time newly composed material.

Making a rare appearance at ØYA-Festival in Oslo 2017, Bel Canto wetted their appetite for writing and performing new material with new band member Erik Ljunggren. 2024 now promises the first release of a Bel Canto album in more than 20 years.