Ina Trælnes represents the sixth generation on the family farm.
Cold, harsh, northern Norwegian winters, however, make farming difficult.
But in Ina’s garden, between two fields, lies Northern Europe’s largest water-filled cave:
Pluragrotta.
– We have chosen to focus on tourism instead, she says to NRK.
Special enough in itself, but on Good Friday something even more special happens.
For the first time in history, a concert is organized in a cave room that can only be reached by diving.
The concert is this morning around 14:15 and you will find a link to the external platform further down in the case.
The audience must dive almost half a kilometer before reaching the concert venue.
Photo: Pekka Turri
A series of coincidences
Ina Trælnes runs a diving school together with her husband Jani.
Incidentally, they got married in Pluragrotta four and a half years ago – which resulted in a world record:
Ina and Jani offer courses for both ordinary divers and cave divers.
However, they do not play music, especially underwater.
So how did this project come about?
– It was a big event when we got married in 2019. By then we had tested everything about logistics and whether it was possible, says Trælnes.
There were 69 guests when Ina and Jani got married in 2019.
Photo: Pekka Tuuri
In the same year, Bodø was awarded the status of European capital of culture for 2024. In addition, Trælnes happened to meet the then director of the local festival Smeltedigelen, Bjørn Bonsaksen.
– He was used to working with music, and asked why on earth we couldn’t have a concert in the cave?
Capital of culture, festival manager and diving experts in place.
Then the only thing missing is musicians – who happen to also be able to dive half a kilometer into a cave.
That’s where this man comes into the picture:
Håkon Erlandsen has previously taken his saxophone up Mount Everest to play a few notes.
Photo: Private
The feeling of diving through the music
Håkon Erlandsen himself says that he is first and foremost a musician. A master’s degree in improvisation and jazz also emphasizes that.
At the same time, he likes to do extreme things, such as playing the saxophone on top of the world‘s highest mountain.
Then it is perhaps not so strange that it is precisely Erlandsen who has composed Friday’s concert.
Håkon Erlandsen is not going to play underwater, but the pictures taken during the preparations are still pretty cool?
Photo: Pekka Tuuri
– Pluragrotta exists. Then you have to make the best use of it. So what’s better than music?
Erlandsen will play the saxophone, with him on bass is the Italian Davide Bertolini.
The concert, which will be streamed to the whole world, will be about the feeling of diving in Pluragrotta.
– You have to dive 475 metres. The maximum depth is 34 metres. It is a spectacular journey. Like flying in a weightless state through a marble corridor, Erlandsen tells NRK.
Pluragrotta is known both in and outside of Norway because of its crystal clear water and fantastic surroundings.
Photo: Pekka Tuuri
Over the past week, dozens of volunteers have worked day and night to get everything in order. Among other things, there have naturally been challenges related to getting the equipment down to the cave room.
– Yesterday we spent seven hours and 140 kilos of lead to lower the double bass, says Erlandsen and emphasizes that fortunately it is an electric double bass.
– You have to think a little outside the box.
Davide and Håkon have a sound check and dress rehearsal late on Maundy Thursday. The link to the concert is further down in the file.
More certificates
Diving half a kilometer down into a cave is not necessarily completely harmless.
In 2014, the diving community was shocked when two Finnish divers died in Pluragrotta.
They certainly dived much deeper and further into the cave, but Erlandsen is aware of the dangers of diving.
– Fortunately, there is little in life that is without risk. But you have to have a rational relationship with risk, that’s important.
In the last week, Håkon has been in and out of Pluragrotta to prepare for the concert.
Photo: Pekka Tuuri
And in order to even be allowed to dive in to the concert, the guests have to have a number of certificates.
– You have to have a cave diving certificate. Being an audience in this place requires a certain level of competence, the saxophonist asserts.
For information, you must first have completed a basic diving certificate and have at least 25 dives. You must then take three relevant cave diving certificates.
In practice, this means at least four certificates. And most have several.
On Good Friday, the stage is finally set for the world‘s first concert in a mine room enclosed by water.
Photo: Pekka Tuuri
Biggest event in years
Erlandsen emphasizes that this is a completely unique project.
– Without doubt the first time in history that something like this has happened. That also makes it exciting. We have to reinvent the wheel just to get to the start of the concert.
For Ina Trælnes, the start of the concert cannot come soon enough. She has been planning and thinking about this for four years.
– People come from 10 countries, including Romania, the USA and Australia. We gather a lot of enthusiastic and passionate people who are passionate about this.
Ina Trælnes got married in Pluragrotta in 2019. Now a concert is organized in the same place.
Photo: Lars-Petter Kalkenberg / NRK
In order for as many people as possible to attend the concert, arrangements are also being made live broadcast from 14:00 (link goes to external platform, YouTube).
– This is the biggest global event in the world of diving in the last decade. It really puts the region on the map, says Trælnes before she concludes:
– It’s going to be absolutely epic.
Published 29.03.2024, at 09.42 Updated 29.03.2024, at 15.29