Alexander Rybak, who is promoting his album "Fairytales" in Europe this summer, visited Athens on 20 July. At a press conference at the residence of the Norwegian Ambassador, Rybak met with several journalists and members of the Greek press. He answered questions about his musical career and his relations with Greece and the Greek participant in this years Eurovision song contest, Sakis Rouvas.
Born in Belarus in 1986 , Alexander and his parents Igor and Natasha Rybak moved to Nesodden outside Oslo when he was a young boy. He early stood out as a talented musician, and won the talent show " Kjempesjansen" in Norway in 2007, before winning this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow in May.
The winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, Alexander Rybak, with the Ambassador of Norway in Athens, Sverre Stub. Photo: Katja Andersson
Putting folk music on the map
Norway's ambassador to Greece, Sverre Stub, opened the press conference by introducing himself and Rybak as two ambassadors of Norway. He said that Rybak's victory in the Eurovision Song Contest and his visit to Athens is good Public Relations for Norway. He thanked Rybak for not only promoting his own career but also because through his performance he is strengthening his country's positive image. The ambassador also referred to the embassy 's involvement in several musical events in Greece this year.
Rybak said that the interest for traditional folk dance and folk music in Norway had increased remarkably after his victory in the song contest, and the same had happened for violin classes. - I feel it´s a great thing if I can put traditional- and folk music back into the spotlight, as I consider this to be one of the purest forms of music.
To a question on how he will use the opportunity of being one of the most-selling winners of Eurovision, Rybak replied that he wants to keep promoting his music, as well as promoting Norway and Norwegian culture.
Happy to be in Greece
He has gained great popularity in Greece this summer, with his winning song Fairytale. - Universal Music Greece contacted me in February, he told the press, excited that Greece paid attention to him even before he won Norway's own national Song Contest.
Alexander Rybak brought his violin to Greece, and even played a song for his audience. Photo: Katja Andersson
Rybak spoke about his relation to Sakis Rouvas, his Greek competitor in the finals, and said that he had great respect for Rouvas as an artist as he kept to his own style, great qualities in his music and has a focus and maturity as well as perfection in his stage show.
-Are you friends with Sakis? a journalist asked. -In the artist world, you are friends if you say "Hello" to each other. If you say "Hello" and still like each other, you are considered best friends, Rybak replied, and the audience broke into laughter. - I met Rouvas at the Greek party in Moscow, and got great respect for him.
Ambassador Stub informed the press that next year's Eurovision Final will be held at Fornebu Arena outside Oslo , on the 29th of May. He was sure it will be a successful event of high quality, but said that the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) has no intention of copying this year's spectacular Moscow show. - We are looking forward to presenting Norway to Europe, and we wish Alexander Rybak good luck on his onward tour.
By Katja Andersson