Lilbjörn Nielsen will be buried today - and his companions will sing on the guitar

Many other artist friends will also sing at the funeral.

Lilbjörn Nielsen slept peacefully on Saturday evening, January 27, at the age of 73. The municipality of Oslo honors him by making the city hall available.

The City Hall opens its doors for the open celebration at 11.45, and the party itself starts at 13. Since 11am there has been a long queue to get in.

Relatives want everyone who wants to say goodbye to have the opportunity. There is no prior registration, and the hall can accommodate 900 guests.

on. 150 guests were invited by the family. These places are reserved, inform the City Council Secretariat.

All guests must go through a security check at the main entrance.

– No one has described our city more important than Lilbjörn, Mayor Anne Lindebø told VG on her way inside.

Steinar Ofsdal has cooperated with Nilsen for many years. He will give a speech and perform.

“This is a bit private,” he told VG on his way inside.

Lilbjörn was a little angry for a while, but I never imagined this would happen. He explained that we planned to reminisce a little soon.

Ofsdal last met with Nielsen on Christmas Eve.

– Then I was at his house with Zahra.

Mayor Anne Lindebo will deliver the opening remarks.

At the family's request, taking photos or filming during the ceremony is not permitted. The funeral will also not be broadcast.

Technical elements

The three surviving friends of Gitarkamateratene, Jan Igum, Halfdan Sivertsen and Øystein Sunde, will perform Nielsen's classic song “Se altivit lyst på lifet”.

Tova Sivertsen, Frida Anevik, Marius Graf and Oslo Strings will sing “Good Night Oslo”.

Guitar friends: (formerly) Lilbjörn Nielsen, Halfdan Sivertsen, Jan Eggum and Øystein Sunde in 2014. On Friday, the latter three pay tribute to their late friend. Photo: Roger Newman/VG

Ossie Cleveland, Nielsen's friend and former colleague, will be among those who will speak, whether in the form of a memorial address or closing remarks.

Hallvard T. Bjørgum will play Hardinge's fiddle.

Musician friend Steinar Øvsdal will give a memorial speech and will also perform the song “Gategut” with Lars Klevstrand.

Ofsdal will also perform “Dance not Cry Now” with Nielsen's ex-wife Kari Svendsen.

Friends: Lillebjørn Nilsen and Åse Kleveland played together in Ballade in the 1980s. This photo was taken in 1992. Photo: Brun, Agnete / NTB

Minister of Culture Lubna Al-Jaafari will be present.

And also Mitty Tverley, Head of the ChancelleryThe Request Advisory is the term given to the secretariat that oversees the day-to-day operation of the Request. In Norway, the Chancellery of the Order of the Order of St. Olav is the secretariat of this order and prepares matters relating to the awarding of decorations and medals. In 2022, King Lilibjörn appointed Nielsen a Knight First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav – for his contribution to the visual arts.says the words of remembrance.

The Bolteløkka Girls Choir will perform the song “Rainbow Children” at the end of the concert.

Memorial Booklet: This is given out at the funeral and is also published on the memorial page. Photo: Gullstad Funeral Home

Lilibjörn Nielsen, who had three marriages, left behind his wife, Mairid Imlach, and his two daughters, Siri and Sarah Nielsen.

«rest in peace. I was loved and missed», survivors write in obituaries. It also states, “A gift is as dear as flowers =Oslo».

Special photo – swipe to take a look into the life of Lillebjørn Nilsen:

Lilbjörn Nielsen pictured during a concert at Rockefeller's in Oslo in 1999.
Steinar Ofsdal (TV) and Lillebjørn Nilsen released the album “Live At Sioux Falls” in 1981.
Lilbjørn Nielsen, found in the Norwegian Forest at Frognerbadt in Oslo in 1997.
Live Friends: Øystein Sunde, Ole Paus, Hegi Tonal, Finn Kalvik, and Liebjörn Nielsen in Chat Noir 1971.
Lillybjörn Nielsen at the Gyldendaal Garden Festival in Oslo in 2002.
1996: Lilbjörn Nielsen poses with 40 other bears during an interview with VG in 1996.
Lilbjörn Nielsen during an interview with VG in 1991.
Lilbjörn Nielsen at the “Let the Children Live” concert in Oslo to raise money for drought-stricken Africa in 1984.
Guitar buddies in Tonsberg in 1993. Friends: Øystein Sunde, Liljebjörn Nielsen, Jan Eggum, Halfdan Sivertsen.
(former) guitar mates Øystein Sunde, Halfdan Sivertsen, Lilbjörn Nielsen and Jan Eggum, when they were honored with an honorary award under Spielmann in 2012.
(former) guitar mates Jan Eggum, Halfdan Sivertsen, Øystein Sunde, and Liljebjörn Nielsen with some of their many merits.
Lilbjörn Nielsen and his daughter, artist Siri Nielsen, during an interview with VG in Oslo in 2016.
Lilbjörn Nielsen pictured at the Oslo Ny Teeter in connection with the production of “Postcard from Lilbjörn” in 2012.
Lilbjörn Nielsen during the release of the album “Nære Nilsen” in 1993.
Thousands of people sang “Rainbow Children” with Lillybjörn Nielsen at Jungstorget in Oslo in 2012 in memory of victims of terrorism.
Anne Grete Preus and Lillebjørn Nilsen (and Nora Brockstedt in the photo they hold) were inducted into the Rockheim Hall of Fame in 2013. Now all three are gone.
Lillebjørn Nilsen was awarded the St. Hallvard Medal by Oslo Mayor Marijan Borgen during a ceremony at Oslo City Hall in 2017. The St. Hallvard Medal is the city of Oslo's highest award. Nielsen received the medal for his work as a musician and his depiction of life in Oslo.
Lillebjørn Nilsen received the honorary award at Spellemannprisen 2022.

Lilbjörn Nielsen pictured during a concert at Rockefeller's in Oslo in 1999.

Steinar Ofsdal (TV) and Lillebjørn Nilsen released the album “Live At Sioux Falls” in 1981.

Lilbjørn Nielsen, found in the Norwegian Forest at Frognerbadt in Oslo in 1997.

Live Friends: Øystein Sunde, Ole Paus, Hegi Tonal, Finn Kalvik, and Liebjörn Nielsen in Chat Noir 1971.

Lillybjörn Nielsen at the Gyldendaal Garden Festival in Oslo in 2002.

1996: Lilbjörn Nielsen poses with 40 other bears during an interview with VG in 1996.

Lilbjörn Nielsen during an interview with VG in 1991.

Lilbjörn Nielsen at the “Let the Children Live” concert in Oslo to raise money for drought-stricken Africa in 1984.

Guitar buddies in Tonsberg in 1993. Friends: Øystein Sunde, Liljebjörn Nielsen, Jan Eggum, Halfdan Sivertsen.

(former) guitar mates Øystein Sunde, Halfdan Sivertsen, Lilbjörn Nielsen and Jan Eggum, when they were honored with an honorary award under Spielmann in 2012.

(former) guitar mates Jan Eggum, Halfdan Sivertsen, Øystein Sunde, and Liljebjörn Nielsen with some of their many merits.

Lilbjörn Nielsen and his daughter, artist Siri Nielsen, during an interview with VG in Oslo in 2016.

Lilbjörn Nielsen pictured at the Oslo Ny Teeter in connection with the production of “Postcard from Lilbjörn” in 2012.

Lilbjörn Nielsen during the release of the album “Nære Nilsen” in 1993.

Thousands of people sang “Rainbow Children” with Lillybjörn Nielsen at Jungstorget in Oslo in 2012 in memory of victims of terrorism.

Anne Grete Preus and Lillebjørn Nilsen (and Nora Brockstedt in the photo they hold) were inducted into the Rockheim Hall of Fame in 2013. Now all three are gone.

Lillebjørn Nilsen was awarded the St. Hallvard Medal by Oslo Mayor Marijan Borgen during a ceremony at Oslo City Hall in 2017. The St. Hallvard Medal is the city of Oslo's highest award. Nielsen received the medal for his work as a musician and his depiction of life in Oslo.

Lillebjørn Nilsen received the honorary award at Spellemannprisen 2022.

Funeral costs are shared between Oslo Municipality and the family.

Nielsen received a number of awards throughout his life, including six Spelman Prizes, the Brøysen Prize, the Culture Prize and the Artist Award of the City of Oslo.

And in 2022 it became Knight First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav.