Name	Tønsberg
Idnumber	0704
County	Vestfold
District	Viken
Capital	Tønsberg
Language	Bokmål
Coatofarms	Tonsberg komm.png
Demonym	Tønsbergensar Tønsbergenser
Munwebpage	www.tonsberg.kommune.no
Mayor	Petter Berg
Mayor party	H
Mayor as of	2009
Area rank	381
Area total km2	107
Area land km2	106
Area water percent	0.03
Population as of	2009
Population rank	21
Population total	38914
Populationpercent	1.23
Population density km2	367
Population increase	10.1
Utm zone	32V | utm_northing = 6574122 | utm_easting = 0581092 | geo_cat = adm2nd

is a town and municipality in Vestfold county, southern Norway, located around north-east of Sandefjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg.

The city of Tønsberg was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). The rural municipality of Sem was merged into the municipality of Tønsberg on 1 January 1988.

The population of the entire urban area, regardless of municipality borders, and following the guidelines set by Statistics Norway, was 46,862 on 1 January 2008, making Tønsberg the tenth most populous urban area in Norway. Tønsberg is generally regarded as the oldest town in Norway.

General information

Name

The Old Norse form of the name was Túnsberg. The first element is the genitive case of tún (n), meaning fenced area or garden. The last element is berg (n), meaning mountain. The name originally referred to the fortifications on Slottsfjellet. The old spelling has been retained in the name of the diocese, Tunsberg bispedømme.

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is an old city seal from as far back as 1349. The seal shows Tønsberg Fortress surrounded by a ring wall on a mountain with the sea in front. There is also a longship in the water in front of the fortress. Around the seal are the words (in Latin): This is the seal of Tunsberg.

History

The first time the town was mentioned by a contemporary writer was in the year 1130. According to Snorri Sturluson, Tønsberg was founded before the Battle of Hafrsfjord, which, according to Snorri, took place in 871. What year the battle took place is disputed, however, and most current historians believe the battle took place closer to 900. However, if the battle did in fact take place in 871, this would make Tønsberg the oldest present Scandinavian city. It was based upon this that the city's 1000 years jubilee was celebrated in 1871, and 1100 years jubilee in 1971. The archaeological excavations conducted in 1987-88 underneath the monastery ruins revealed several Viking graves which have served to confirm the earlier age of the original settlement.

The king or his ombudsman resided in the old Royal Court at Sæheimr, today the Jarlsberg Estate (Jarlsberg Hovedgård), and on the farm Haugar, which can be assumed to be Tønsberg's birthplace. Haugar became the seat for Haugathing, the Thing for Vestfold and Norway's second most important place for the proclamation of kings. The site had probably been named after two Viking era mound, which tradition links to two sons of King Harald I, Olaf Haraldsson Geirstadalf, who was king in Vestfold, and his half-brother, Sigrød Haraldsson, king of Trondheim. Both are presumed to have fallen in battle at Haugar against their half-brother Eric Bloodaxe and to have been buried on the same spot.

Slottsfjellet (), north of the city centre, made for a near impregnable natural fortress. During the civil war era of the 12th century, it was fortified by the Baglers. The Birkebeiners besieged it for 20 weeks in the winter of 1201 before the Baglers surrendered. In the 13th century, King Haakon Haakonson set up a castle in Tønsberg, Tønsberg Fortress. The town was destroyed by fire in 1536, but Tønsberg remained one of the most important harbour towns in Norway.

During the German occupation of Norway in World War II, the Berg concentration camp was constructed near Tønsberg. In 1948, Tønsberg became the cathedral city of the Diocese of Tunsberg (Tunsberg bispedømme), created when the counties of Buskerud and Vestfold were separated from the Diocese of Oslo.

Oseberghaugen

Tønsberg is the site of Oseberghaugen, a Viking era burial mound. (Norwegian: Oseberghaugen ved Slagen from the Old Norse Word haugr meaning mound) The Oseberg ship was found in the Oseberg burial mound in 1904. This Viking era longship is now in the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo. Archaeological excavations in 1904 uncovered history's largest and richest example of craftmanship from the Viking Age. In addition to the Oseberg ship, Oseberghaugen contained the Oseberg carriage, five beautifully carved bed-posts shaped like animal heads, four sledges, beds, chests, weaving-frames, household utensils and much more. Scientific examinations in 1992 now date the burial to 834 AD, and indicate a probability that it was Queen Alvhild, the first wife of King Gudrød, who was buried here.

Tourist sites

Perhaps the most important landmark in the town is the tower standing on the hill. It was erected in 1888 as a memorial to the old fortress, of which just fragmentary ruins remain today. Several streets in the town are named after old kings of Norway. Other tourist sites include ruins of the Tønsberg Fortress (Tønsberghus), St. Michael's Church, and the Royal Castle. Sem Church (Sem kirke) located near the Jarlsberg Estate, is Vestfold's oldest stone church built before 1100 in the Romanesque style. Haugar Vestfold Art Museum is located in the parkland between the site of the ancient assembly of Haugating and the two Viking era mounds.

Economy

Tønsberg is still an industrial and maritime centre, with such diverse concerns as metal shops, shipyards, paper mills, leather processing, and breweries. It is noted especially for its silverware. The city is served by the railway line Vestfoldbanen, which runs in a loop through the city before reaching Tønsberg Station.

Population

On 1 January 2009, the population of Tønsberg municipality was 38,914. The population of the urban area, Norway's tenth most populous, was 46,091. 30,061 lived in Tønsberg municipality, while 16,030 lived in Nøtterøy municipality. The urban area extends from Eik in the north, to Tolvsrød, Vallø and Ringshaug in the east and Borgheim on Nøtterøy in the south. Tønsberg municipality contains four additional urban areas: Sem, with 2,147 inhabitants of which 2,100 live in Tønsberg and 47 live in Stokke; Barkåker, with 1,292 inhabitants; Åsgårdstrand, with 2,847 inhabitants of which 2,794 in Horten and 53 in Tønsberg; and Vear, with a population of 3,502 of which 2,263 live in Stokke and 1,239 live in Tønsberg.

Notable residents

Hjalmar Andersen, three time European (1950–1952) and World champion (1950–1952) as well as 1952 Winter Olympics champion in speedskating

Anders Aukland, the six-time winner of the world championship in cross-country skiing, was born in the Husvik area in Tønsberg in 1972.

Odd Børretzen, a Norwegian writer and artist lives outside Tønsberg.

Ronny Johnsen, professional footballer (Manchester United), lives in Tønsberg

Lise Karlsnes, a Norwegian singer from the band Briskeby

Lene Nystrøm, singer of Aqua, was born here.

Marion Raven, a Norwegian singer, lived outside Tønsberg with her parents

DJ Ravi (Ivar Johansen) is born and raised in the town.

Seigmen, a Norwegian alternative rock band, comes from Tønsberg.

Jahn Teigen, the lead singer of Popol Ace (formerly Popol Vuh), came from Tønsberg.

Tonje Larsen, handball player, was born and raised here.

Magnus Carlsen, world blitz champion in chess, was born in Tønsberg.

Twin towns - sister cities

The following cities are twinned with Tønsberg:

* Covarrubias, Spain Évora, Portugal Ísafjörður, Iceland Joensuu, Finland Lamia, Greece Linköping, Sweden Ravenna, Italy Speyer, Germany

References

;Notes

External links

Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway

Municipality website

Tønsberg Navigasjonsskole

Haugar Art Museum

Category:Municipalities of Vestfold Category:Populated places in Vestfold Category:Port cities and towns in Norway Category:Port cities and towns of the North Sea Category:Populated places established in the 9th century

Name	Alexander Rybak
Background	solo_singer
Born	May 13, 1986
Origin	Minsk, Belarus
Instrument	Vocals, Violin, Piano
Genre	Pop, Folk, Classical
Occupation	Singer, Actor, songwriter Composer, Pianist
Years active	1991–present
Associated acts	Eurovision Song Contest 2009, Frikar
Url	www.alexanderrybak.com

Alexander Igoroyevich Rybak or Alyaksandr Igaravich Rybak (, born 13 May 1986 in Belarus) is a Norwegian singer-composer, violinist, pianist, writer, and actor of Belarusian parentage. Representing Norway in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow, Russia, Rybak won the contest with 387 points—the highest tally any country has achieved in the history of Eurovision — with "Fairytale", a song he wrote and composed. His debut album, Fairytales, charted in the top 20 in nine European countries, including a #1 position in Norway and Russia.

Personal life

Rybak was born on May 13, 1986 in Minsk, Belarus - which at that time was the Belarusian SSR in the Soviet Union. When he was 4 years old, he and his family moved to Norway. At the age of five, Rybak began to play the piano and the violin. Rybak was baptized and raised in the Orthodox religion. He stated "I always liked to entertain and somehow that is my vocation". Rybak bought a new apartment and lives now at Aker Brygge (Oslo, Norway).

Anger issue

In 2010 several incidents of uncontrolled anger caused commentators to question whether Rybak has a temper control problem. During the trials for the ESC 2010 finals in Bærum, Rybak became so infuriated when a sound technician wasn't doing what he wanted that he smashed his hand, breaking his fingers. Also during trials for Swedish television in June he smashed his violin on the floor. His appearance was then canceled. According to his manager, Kjell Arild Tiltnes, Rybak does not have an issue with aggression. Tiltnes stated that "as long as he abreacts on objects and on himself, I see no reason for this to be something that he needs help dealing with." Rybak said "I never raised my voice before, and that's why I did what I did. I'm just a human being - and perhaps not the glossy image many believe. So it was good to get out frustrations so I could go on. It's only me that goes beyond the same."

Career

Rybak has been a student at the Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo since the age of 10. Due to his success in the Eurovision Song Contest, he is currently taking a break from his Bachelor's degree studies at the Institute. In 2004, Rybak was awarded the Anders Jahre Culture Prize. In 2005, he entered the Norwegian version of Idol, reaching the semifinal. In 2006 Rybak won Kjempesjansen (The Great Opportunity), a talent competition hosted by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), with his own song "Foolin'". a song inspired by Norwegian folk music. The song was composed and written by Rybak and was performed together with the modern folk dance company Frikar. The song received good reviews with a score of 6 out of 6 in the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet

In the Norwegian national heats, Rybak achieved a clean sweep, gaining the top score from all nine voting districts and ending with a combined televote and jury score of 747,888, while the runner up Tone Damli Aaberge received a combined score of 121,856.

The song competed in the second semi-final and won a place in the Eurovision final.

Rybak later won the Eurovision final with a landslide victory, receiving votes from all the participating countries (except Norway, which was not allowed to vote for itself). Rybak finished with a total of 387 points, breaking the previous record of 292 points scored by Lordi in 2006 and scoring 169 points more than the runner-up, Iceland. He is also the fourth most successful artist of Eurovision with 387 points, behind Dima Bilan, Carola and Chiara.

After Eurovision, film and the first album

, at a concert in Norway, September 2009]] Rybak's first album Fairytales was released after his Eurovision win. Rybak also co-stars as Levi in the film directed by Grete Salomonsen, which is to be released in 2010. Rybak also went on a tour in Norway with former Norwegian Eurovision winner Elisabeth Andreassen, something that had been decided before his Eurovision win and participation. He and Frikar has also toured Norway, and Europe in 2009. On December 2009 performance of his hit Fairytale at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, held at the Oslo Spektrum. Rybak shared the stage with other nine acts. Too EMI Norway has just released a film entitled Fairytale, the movie, directed by acclaimed Norwegian director, Rune Langlo, documenting the journey of Alexander Rybak since claiming the top prize for Norway in Moscow.

In 2009 he recorded the theme song called "I Don't Believe in Miracles / Superhero"for the Russian action movie Black Lightning produced by Timur Bekmambetov.

2010–present: 2nd album and Let's dance Sweden

On January 30 2010, Rybak performed one of his new singles "Europe Skies" in national final, Euroviisut 2010, to select the 2010 Finnish entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. On the March 12, 2010 Alexander Rybak performed his Eurovision 2009 winning song "Fairytale" on UK TV Show . On April 2010 Rybak released a new song featuring Opptur called "Fela Igjen". Alexander released his second album on the June 14 2010 called No Boundaries. It was not as successuful as his last album, so far it has peaked to number 7 in Norway, number 8 in Sweden and 32 in Finland. On January 7, 2011 Rybak will be one of twelve contestant on the next Swedish season of the dancing show Let's dance also known as Dancing with the stars, in the show Rybak will dance to win the competition against other Swedish celebrities.

Discography

Albums

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan=2| Year ! rowspan=2| Album ! colspan=10| Peak chart positions |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! width=35| NOR ! width=35| BEL ! width=35| DEN ! width=35| DUT ! width=35| FIN ! width=35| GER ! width=35| POL ! width=35| RUS ! width=35| SWE ! width=35| EU |- | 2009 | align=left| Fairytales

1st Studio Album

Release Date: 29 May 2009

Labels: EMI, Universal

Genre: Pop

| 1 | 13 | 15 | 29 | 4 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 18 |- | 2010 | align=left| No Boundaries

2nd studio album

Release Date: 14 June 2010

Labels: Universal

Genre: Pop

| 7 | — | — | — | 32 | — | 12 | — | 8 | — |}

Singles

{|class="wikitable" |- !rowspan="2"| Year !rowspan="2"| Single !colspan="10"| Chart positions !rowspan="2"| Album |- style="font-size:90%;" ! width=40| NOR ! width=40| UK ! width=40| IRE ! width=40| RUS ! width=40| FIN ! width=40| GRE ! width=40| SWE ! width=40| DEN ! width=40| DUT ! width=40| EU |- |rowspan="3"|2009 |align="left"|"Fairytale" | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|10 | style="text-align:center;"|2 | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|2 | style="text-align:center;"|3 | style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"|Fairytales |- |align="left"|"Funny Little World" | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|4 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |- |align="left"|"Roll With the Wind" | style="text-align:center;"|10 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |- |rowspan="2"|2010 |align="left"|"Oah" | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |- | colspan="25" style="text-align:center;"| Other singles |- | 2009 |align="left"|"I Don't Believe in Miracles / Superhero" | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|18 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|Black Lightning Soundtrack |- | 2010 |align="left"|"Fela Igjen" (feat. Opptur) | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |Non-Album single |}

Filmography

{| class="wikitable" |- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;" ! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Film |- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;" ! Year ! Film ! Role ! Notes |- |2009 | Fairytale - The Movie | |Documentary about Alexander Rybak after his ESC-Victory |}

References

Hyllet i hjembygda (Norwegian), Østlands-Posten, May 18, 2009, about the official Alexander Rybak Fanclub on Facebook

Du kan bli med Alex til Moskva (Norwegian), Akershus Amtstidende, April 15, 2009, about the official Alexander Rybak Fanclub on Facebook

External links

Official homepage

Official Facebook Page

Official International Fansite of Alexander Rybak

Fan web-site of Alexander Rybak

Alexander Rybak PR in Ireland

Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:Eastern Orthodox Christians from Norway Category:Melodi Grand Prix contestants Category:Melodi Grand Prix winners Category:Naturalised citizens of Norway Category:Norwegian violinists Category:Norwegian male singers Category:Norwegian actors Category:Norwegian composers Category:Norwegian Eurovision Song Contest entrants Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 2009 Category:Eurovision Song Contest winners Category:People from Minsk Category:Norwegian people of Belarusian descent Category:People from Nesodden Category:Norwegian multi-instrumentalists Category:Norwegian fiddlers

Elisabeth Gunilla Andreassen (born March 28, 1958 in Gothenburg, Sweden by Norwegian parents) - also known as just "Bettan" - is a Swedish-Norwegian singer who has finished both first and second in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Andreassen is active in many musical genres, as country music, schlager and musicals. She is mostly famous from Eurovision Song Contest 1985 when she and Hanne Krogh participated as Bobbysocks with the song La det swinge, and won. She lives in Ullern, Oslo in Norway with her husband Tor and two daughters, born in 1995 and 1997. Elisabeth and Tor married on July 2, 1994, and before that Elisabeth was known as Elisabeth Andreasson.

Her talent was discovered in 1979 by Swedish musician and TV host Lasse Holm. She was produced by Bert Karlsson's label Mariann Grammofon AB. In 1980, she joined Lasse's group Chips. Chips participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 1982 with the song Dag efter dag (Day after Day), and reached 8th place.

Elisabeth Andreassen is an artist in many genres. She has sung country, pop, rock, ballads and opera. She plays three instruments; guitar, piano and contrabass. She has also been a revue and musical artist.

"Bettan" has a record as the woman with the most participations in the Eurovision Song Contest, tied with Lys Assia. She has participated four times, three times in duets (with Kikki Danielsson in 1982, Hanne Krogh in 1985, and Jan Werner Danielsen in 1994) and once on her own (in 1996).

Hits

Då lyser en sol (1981)

Killen ner' på Konsum svär att han är Elvis (There's a Guy Works down the Chipchop Swears he's Elvis) (1981)

Together Again (1981)

God morgon (Good Morning) (1981) (as Chips)

Dag efter dag (Day after Day) (1982) (as Chips)

La det swinge (Let it swing) (1985) (as Bobbysocks)

Ängel i natt (1985)

Tissel Tassel (1985)

Danse mot vår (Serenade to Spring) (1992)

I evighet (Eternity) (1996) (Wir sind dabei) (1998)

Pepita dansar (1997)

Lys og varme (2001)

Vem é dé du vill ha (2002) (as Kikki, Bettan & Lotta)

Eurovision Song Contest

Altogether, Elisabeth has participated in the Swedish Melodifestivalen, Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix and the Eurovision Song Contest fourteen times, plus two as presenter.

Melodifestivalen

:1981. Chips - "God morgon" (Good morning), 2nd place :1982. Chips - "Dag efter dag" (Day after day), 1st place :1984. Elisabeth Andreassen - "Kärleksmagi", 6th place (last) :1990. Elisabeth Andreassen - "Jag ser en stjärna falla", 7th place :2000. TV-host, with nine other artists. :2002. Kikki, Bettan & Lotta - "Vem é dé du vill ha", 3rd place :2011. Elisabeth Andreassen - "Vaken i en dröm"

Melodi Grand Prix

:1985. Bobbysocks - "La det swinge" (Let it swing), 1st place :1992. TV-host, with Jahn Teigen :1994. Bettan & Jan Werner - "Duett" (Duet), 1st place :1996. Elisabeth Andreassen - "I evighet" (Eternity), 1st place :1998. Elisabeth Andreassen - "Winds of the Northern Sea", 2nd place :2003. Kikki, Bettan & Lotta - "Din hånd i min hånd", 4th place

Eurovision Song Contest

:1982. Chips - "Dag efter dag", 8th place, Sweden :1985. Bobbysocks - "La det swinge", 1st place, Norway :1994. Elisabeth Andreassen & Jan Werner Danielsen - "Duett", 6th place, Norway :1996. Elisabeth Andreassen - "I evighet", 2nd place, Norway

Discography

Chips

God morgon/It Takes More than a Minute (1981) - Single

Having a Party (1982)

Dag efter dag/Här kommer solen (1982) - Single

20 bästa låtar (1997) - Compilation album

Kikki, Bettan & Lotta

20 år med oss - Vem é dé du vill ha (2002)

Vem é dé du vill ha (2002) - Single

Live från Rondo (2003)

Solo

Angel of the Morning (1981)

I'm a Woman (1983)

Elisabeth Andreasson (1985)

Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (1985)

Greatest Hits (1986)

Älskar, älskar ej (1988)

Elisabeth (1990)

Stemninger (1992 to 1994)

Julestemninger (1993)

Elisabeth Andreassens bästa 1981-1995 (1995)

Eternity (1996)

Bettans jul (1996)

Så skimrande var aldrig havet (1997)

20 bästa (1998)

Kjærlighetsviser (2001)

A Couple of Days in Larsville (2004)

Short Stories (2005)

See also

Bobbysocks

Eurovision Song Contest

Eurovision Song Contest 1985

Eurovision Song Contest 1996

Melodi Grand Prix

Melodifestivalen

Hanne Krogh

External links

Official website

References

Category:1958 births Category:Norwegian Eurovision Song Contest entrants Category:Swedish Eurovision Song Contest entrants Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 1982 Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 1985 Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 1994 Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 1996 Category:Eurovision Song Contest winners Category:Living people Category:Melodifestivalen contestants Category:Melodi Grand Prix contestants Category:Norwegian country singers Category:Norwegian female singers Category:Norwegian-language singers Category:Norwegian guitarists Category:Norwegian pianists Category:Norwegian pop singers Category:Norwegian rock singers Category:Melodifestivalen presenters Category:Melodi Grand Prix winners Category:Norwegian multi-instrumentalists Category:The X Factor judges Category:Skal vi danse? participants