Nobel Peace Prize Concert

Scarlett Johansson and Michael Caine at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert 2008

The Nobel Peace Prize Concert has been held annually since 1994 on 11 December, one day after the date of Alfred Nobel's death, to honour the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The award ceremony on 10 December takes place in the Oslo City Hall, while the concert is in the Oslo Spektrum Arena, with the attendance of the laureate and other prominent guests. The arena receives approximately 6,500–7,000 guests and the concert is broadcast to over 100 countries.

The concert features singers with a wide range of music genres, the exception being the year of 1995, when a classical concert was held instead. Several editions of the concert are recorded, with different lengths and content, for airing in several countries.

The hosts give descriptions of the winner's work, an interview of the winner is shown and the winner gives a speech during the concert.

Laureates, hosts and artists by year

Since planning starts in January, the artists invited to the concert aren't typically connected to the winner, who is announced in October. There are however usually made a few late additions, to reflect the winner. The Norwegian Radio Orchestra is the main orchestra every year.

1994

Laureates: Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin

Host: Erik Bye

Artists:

• Ofra Haza
• Mari Boine
• Ole Edvard Antonsen
• Sigvard Dagsland
• Sinéad O'Connor
• Sondre Bratland

1995

Laureates: Joseph Rotblat and the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs

This year a concert featuring only classical works was held.

1996

Laureates: Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo and José Ramos-Horta

Host: Lise Fjeldstad

Artists:

• Angélique Kidjo
• Annbjørg Lien
• Jan Garbarek / Angelite
• Joan Osborne
• Morten Harket performed the song "East Timor"
• Solveig Kringlebotn
• Sondre Bratland
• Sølvguttene
• Tata-Mai-Lau

1997

Laureates: International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and Jody Williams

Host: Vigdís Finnbogadóttir

Artists:

• Anne Grete Preus
• Boyz II Men
• Emmylou Harris – (special wish from the Peace Prize winner)
• Harry Connick, Jr.
• Jewel
• Mariah Carey – "My All", "Butterfly"; "One Sweet Day" with Boyz II Men
• Nils Petter Molvær
• Sinéad O'Connor
• Sølvguttene
• Youssou N'Dour

Harry Connick Jr brought 35 musicians with him on stage, when performing at the concert in 1997.

1998

Laureates: John Hume and David Trimble

Host: Åse Kleveland

Artists:

• a-ha – "Summer Moved On", "The Sun Always Shines On TV";
• Alanis Morissette
• The Cranberries – "Dreams", "Promises"
• Elton John (Videoscreen) – "Your Song", "Something About The Way You Look Tonight"
• Enrique Iglesias
• Espen Lind – "Pop From Hell"
• Hariprasad Chaurasia
• James Galway with Phil Coulter
• Oumou Sangaré
• Pandit Shivkumar Sharma
• Phil Collins – "Both Sides Of The Story", "Antother Day In Paradise"
• Shania Twain – "You're Still the One", "Black Eyes, Blue Tears"
• Sølvguttene
• Willard White (replacement for Andrea Bocelli)

At the concert in 1998, American TV network Fox, did not include A-ha's performance, which was edited out. Another performance edited out by Fox in 1998, was Norwegian artist Espen Lind's "Pop From Hell". The word "hell" was not the problem, but the following sentence: "You make me so hard/because you're a star". A Fox-producer stated it would be too much to take for the American family audience. Espen Lind was told his performance would not be edited out if he did not include the word "hard" in the song, but he would not change the lyrics. He said he did not want to let himself be controlled by a double-moralistic American family channel, and that such compromises were not acceptable for him to make.

1999

Laureate: Médecins Sans Frontières

Host: Claus Wiese

Voice-over: David Fishel

Artists:

• a1
• Bryan Ferry
• The Corrs
• Denyce Graves
• Ismaël Lô
• Ladysmith Black Mambazo
• Ole Edvard Antonsen with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra
• Secret Garden
• Sting
• Tina Turner "When the heartache is over", "Whatever you need"

2000

Laureate: Kim Dae-jung

Host: Jane Seymour (short notice cancellation by Meryl Streep)

Artists:

• Bon Jovi
• Bryn Terfel
• Eros Ramazzotti
• Femi Kuti
• Lee Ann Womack
• Moby
• Natalie Cole
• Sissel Kyrkjebø
• Sumi Jo
• Westlife

2001

Laureates: The United Nations and Kofi Annan

Hosts: Liam Neeson and Meryl Streep

Artists:

• a-ha – "Differences", "Hunting High and Low "
• Anastacia
• Barbara Hendricks
• Daniela Mercury
• Destiny's Child
• International Children's Choir
• Jan Garbarek
• Kodo
• Natalie Imbruglia
• Paul McCartney
• Russell Watson
• Wyclef Jean – "Redemption Song"
• Youssou N'Dour – "My Hope Is In You"
• Norwegian Radio Orchestra conducted by Paul Bateman

The 2001 concert's closing song was "Let It Be", performed by Paul McCartney and the other artists.

2002

Laureate: Jimmy Carter

Hosts: Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange

Artists:

• Angélique Kidjo
• Hall & Oates
• Jennifer Lopez – "Jenny From The Block"
• Jessye Norman
• Joaquín Cortés
• Josh Groban – "To Where You Are", "The Prayer" with Sissel Kyrkjebø
• Laura Pausini
• Mari Boine
• Michelle Branch
• Santana – "Oye Como Va"
• Sissel Kyrkjebø – "The Prayer" with Josh Groban
• Suede
• Willie Nelson – "Always On My Mind", "The Great Divide", "Georgia on My Mind" (special wish from the Peace Prize winner)
• Norwegian Radio Orchestra conducted by Paul Bateman

The Grand Finale in 2002, sung by all the artists, was "Imagine". Opera singer Jessye Norman forgot the lyrics.

2003

Laureate: Shirin Ebadi

Hosts: Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas

Artists:

• Aretha Franklin – "Make Them Hear You", "Wonderful"
• Angela Gheorghiu – "Muzica"
• Orchestra Baobab
• The Cardigans – "For What It's Worth", "Communication"
• The Chieftains – "40 Shades of Green" with Rosanne Cash
• Craig David – "World Filled With Love", "Hidden Agenda"
• Jan Werner Danielsen – "Air"
• The Kamkars
• Lene Marlin – "Hope you're happy"
• Roberto Alagna – "'O Sole Mio"; "Come Prima" with Angela Gheorghiu
• Robert Plant – "Morning Dew" with Strange Sensation
• Tim McGraw – "Please remember me", "God's child"
• Norwegian Radio Orchestra conducted by Martin Yates
• Hearts In Motion Gospel Choir - "Air" with Jan Werner Danielsen

The Grand Finale in 2003, sung by all the artists, was "Imagine". Robert Plant sang and changed the word "religion" with "division" in the sentence "Nothing to kill or die for/ And no division too".

2004

Laureate: Wangari Maathai

Hosts: Oprah Winfrey and Tom Cruise

Artists:

• Andrea Bocelli – "Dell'amore non si sa", "In-canto"
• Baaba Maal
• Chris Botti – "Someone To Watch Over Me"
• Cyndi Lauper – "Time After Time"
• Diana Krall
• Joss Stone
• Patti LaBelle
• The Polyphonic Spree
• Sondre Lerche
• Suzanna Owíyo
• Tony Bennett
• Norwegian Radio Orchestra conducted by Martin Yates

The use of Tom Cruise as a host created some controversy both from people fearing it could be used to promote Scientology^[1] and from people who were unhappy with his supportive statements on the Iraq War.^[2] There was however no mention of Scientology during the concert and Cruise has stated his remarks on the war were misquoted. The Grand Finale was by Patti LaBelle where she had the audience dancing to the music. She also pulled members of the audience onto the stage having them dancing around.

2005

Laureates: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Mohamed ElBaradei

Hosts: Julianne Moore and Salma Hayek

Artists:

• Damien Rice – "Unplayed piano", "Cold Water"
• Duran Duran – "Ordinary world", "(Reach up for the) Sunrise", "Nice"
• Gladys Knight – "Party train / Friendship Train medley", "The best thing that ever happened to me", "I've got to use my imagination", "I heard it through the grapevine", "Midnight train to Georgia"; "I heard it through the grapevine" with Bubba Knight
• Juanes – "La Camisa Negra", "Sueños"
• Katherine Jenkins – "L'amore sei tu" ("I Will Always Love You"), "One fine day"
• Katie Melua – "The closest thing to crazy", "I cried for you", "Nine million bicycles"
• Madrugada – "The Kids are on high street"; "Lift me" with Ane Brun
• Ska Cubano – "Chicago", "Ay Caramba"
• Sugababes – "Hole in the head", "Ugly"
• Westlife – "World of our own"; "You raise me up" with Rolf Løvland and Fionnuala Sherry
• Yo-Yo Ma – "Haydn: Cello Concerto in C, third movement"
• Norwegian Radio Orchestra conducted by Martin Yates

The Grand Finale in 2005, sung by all the artists, was "Give Peace a Chance".

2006

Laureates: Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank

Hosts: Sharon Stone and Anjelica Huston

Artists:

• Hakim – "Eda Ba", "Ya Albi"
• John Legend – "Save Room", "Used to Love U"
• Lionel Richie – "Dancing on the Ceiling", "I Call It Love", "Hello", "All Night Long"
• Monica Yunus (peace prize winner's daughter) – "O mio babbino caro"
• Morten Abel – "Big Brother", "Hard to Stay Awake"
• Nrityanchal, a group from Bangladesh (personal favorite of the Peace Prize winner) – Peacock dance
• Paulina Rubio – "Ni Una Sola Palabra", "Beautiful Lie" ("Miénteme Una Vez Más")
• Renée Fleming – "Vissi d'arte", "You'll Never Walk Alone"
• Rihanna – "SOS", "Unfaithful"
• Simply Red – "Something Got Me Started", "So Not Over You", "Stars"
• Wynonna – "At Last", "Ave Maria"
• Yusuf (Cat Stevens) – "Midday (Avoid Life After Dark)", "Peace Train", "Heaven/Where True Love Goes"
• Norwegian Radio Orchestra conducted by Nick Ingman

The artists joined Lionel Richie on stage at the end of the show when/after he was singing "All Night Long".

2007

Laureates: Al Gore and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Hosts: Kevin Spacey (short notice cancellation by Tommy Lee Jones) and Uma Thurman^[3]

Artists:

• Earth, Wind & Fire – "Fantasy", "September"
• Melissa Etheridge – "I Need to Wake Up", "What Happens Tomorrow"
• Morten Harket – "Letters from Egypt" (with Sølvguttene) & " Movies "
• Juanes – "Minas Piedras"
• Junoon – "Bulleya"
• Alicia Keys – "No One", "Fallin'", "Human Nature"
• Annie Lennox – "Dark Road", "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"
• KT Tunstall – "Hold On", "Suddenly I See"
• Kylie Minogue – "Can't Get You Out of My Head", "2 Hearts"
• Tine Thing Helseth – trumpet opening number
• Norwegian Radio Orchestra conducted by Nick Davies

2008

Laureate: Martti Ahtisaari

Hosts: Scarlett Johansson^[4] & Michael Caine^[5]

Artists:

• Iver Kleive – Overture
• Robyn – "With Every Heartbeat", "Be Mine!"
• Jason Mraz featuring Magne Furuholmen – "I'm Yours", "A Beautiful Mess"
• The Script – "The Man Who Can't Be Moved", "We Cry"
• Marit Larsen – "I've Heard Your Love Songs", "If a Song Could Get Me You"
• Il Divo – "The Winner Takes It All", "Adagio", "Somewhere"
• Dierks Bentley – "Free and Easy", "Feel That Fire", "Beautiful World"^[6] with Marit Larsen
• Julieta Venegas – "El presente", "Algún día"
• Seun Kuti & Egypt 80
• Elina Vähälä – "Fantasy"
• Diana Ross – "I'm Coming Out", "Where Did Our Love Go", "Baby Love", "Stop! In the Name of Love", "If We Hold On Together" (with Sølvguttene), "Do You Know Where You're Going To", "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "I Will Survive"
• Norwegian Radio Orchestra conducted by Nick Davies

The artists joined Diana Ross on stage at the end of the show when/after she was singing Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand).

2009

Nobel Peace Prize Concert 2009

Laureate: Barack Obama (did not attend the concert)

Hosts: Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith with additional appearance by their children Jaden Smith and Willow Smith^[7]

Artists:

• Wyclef Jean – "Diallo", "Gunpowder" and "The Sweetest Girl"
• Toby Keith – "God Love Her", "Cryin' For Me" and "American Ride"
• Donna Summer – "MacArthur Park", "She Works Hard For The Money", "Smile", "No More Tears", "Bad Girls" and "Last Dance"
• Luis Fonsi – "No me doy por vencido" and "Yo Te Propongo"
• Amadou & Mariam – "Welcome to Mali" and "Beaux Dimanches"
• Alexander Rybak – "Fairytale"
• Esperanza Spalding – "Precious" and "I Know You Know" (special wish from the Peace Prize winner)
• Lang Lang – Rhapsody in Blue
• Natasha Bedingfield – "Pocketful of Sunshine", "Soulmate"
• Westlife – "You Raise Me Up" (featuring Ragnhild Hemsing), "What About Now"
• Norwegian Radio Orchestra conducted by Nick Davies and Jens Wendelboe (Donna Summer set)
• Hearts In Motion Gospel Choir - featured in the finale

The Grand Finale in 2009, sung by all the artists, was Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror".

2010

Nobel Peace Prize Concert 2010

Laureate: Liu Xiaobo (absent)

Hosts: Denzel Washington and Anne Hathaway^[8][9]

Artists:

• A. R. Rahman featuring Gulrez khan – "Slumdog Millionaire Suite", "Jai Ho"
• Herbie Hancock featuring Kristina Train, India.Arie and Greg Phillinganes – "Imagine", "Don't Give Up"
• India.Arie featuring Idan Raichel – "Gift of acceptance"
• Colbie Caillat – "Bubbly", "Fallin' for You"
• Florence and the Machine featuring Ruth Potter on harp – "Dog Days Are Over", "Cosmic Love"
• Robyn – "Jeg vet en deilig rose", "Dancing on my own", "Indestructible"
• Sivert Høyem – "Prisoner of the Road", "Into the Sea"
• Barry Manilow – "Could It Be Magic", "Can't Smile Without You", "Mandy", "Copacabana", "One Voice"
• Jamiroquai – "Canned Heat", "Lifeline", "Virtual Insanity"
• Norwegian Radio Orchestra conducted by Nick Davies (featured in all artists performances)
• Young Norwegian Strings – Rigaudon from the Holberg Suite
• Nobel House Band
• Hearts In Motion Gospel Choir (on Barry Manilow's "One Voice")

All artist performing Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" at finale.

2011

Laureates: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Roberta Gbowee and Tawakel Karman

Host: Helen Mirren^[10] and Rosario Dawson ^[11]

Artists:

• Janelle Monáe^[12] - "Cold War," I Want You Back," "Tightrope"
• Angélique Kidjo (Leymah Gbowee's personal selection)^[13] - "Africa"
• Evanescence^[13] - "Lost in Paradise," "Bring Me to Life"
• Ahmed Fathi (Tawakel Karman's personal selection)^[13] - "The Good Spirits"
• Ellie Goulding^[12] - "Starry Eyed," "Your Song"
• Jill Scott^[12] - "Hate on Me," "Golden," "He Loves Me (Lyzel In E Flat)"
• Jarle Bernhoft^[12] - "C'mon Talk"
• Sugarland^[12] - "Stuck Like Glue," "Tonight"
• David Gray^[12] - "Fugitive"
• World Youth Choir^[12]
• Miatta Fahnbulleh (Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's personal selection)^[13]
• Norwegian Radio Orchestra conducted by Nick Davies (featured in all artists performances)
• Hearts In Motion Gospel Choir (featured in David Gray's "Fugitive", Ahmed Fathi's "The Good Spirits")

All artists joined with Angélique Kidjo on the stage singing the song "Move On Up" as the finale to the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Concert.

International broadcasters

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Country	Broadcaster
Norway	NRK
England	Sky Arts
Sweden	SVT
Denmark	DR K
Australia	ABC2
India	Zee Café
Indonesia	MetroTV
Italy	Playme.tv
Turkey	TRT
Iceland	SkjárEinn

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Nobel Peace Prize Concert

• The Nobel Peace Prize Concert
• Nobel Peace Prize Concert (2005) at the Internet Movie Database
• Nobel Peace Prize Concert (2003) at the Internet Movie Database
• Nobel Peace Prize Concert (2002) at the Internet Movie Database
• Nobel Peace Prize Concert (2001) at the Internet Movie Database
• Nobel Peace Prize Concert (1997) at the Internet Movie Database
• Pictures from the concert (2005) at Dagbladet
• Pictures from the concert (2004) at Dagbladet

Coordinates: 59°54′46.68″N 10°45′16.74″E / 59.9129667°N 10.75465°E / 59.9129667; 10.75465