Norwegian Culture
Music in Norway has always been important to the country's
identity. One famous Norwegian composer is Romantic master Edvard
Grieg. His passionate and often nationalistic works include the
Peer Gynt suites from which the unmistakeable 'Hall of the Mountain
King' is an excerpt.
In the art world, Norway is known as the homeland of Edvard
Munch. This expressionist painter is most well-known for his
painting, 'The Scream', one version of which sold for around $120
million at auction.
Famously, Norway is the country of the Nobel Peace Prize, with a
selection of five judges selected by the Norwegian Parliament.
While the prizes themselves are Swedish and mostly awarded in
Sweden, the peace prize is the only prize awarded by a Norwegian
committee. This was decided by the founder Alfred Nobel, who left
no explanation for his decision.
The national sport of Norway is cross-country skiing, with the
annual ski marathon Birkebeinerrennet being the largest skiing
event in the country featuring hundreds of skiers on a breathtaking
54km route over two mountains. Other sports include football and
ice hockey.