William Halverson is 95 years old, but shows no signs of letting up on the work that has earned him international acclaim.
On Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Norway House in Minneapolis, Halverson, a literary translator, will celebrate his newest book, “Haugtussa – The Clairvoyant Mountain Maid.” The book is the first-ever English translation of a selection of poems published in 1895 by Arne Garborg, called “Haugtussa,” and considered a classic of Norwegian literature.
Halverson “is younger-thinking than most teenagers,” said Rolf Erdahl, vice chair of the Edvard Grieg Society of Minnesota, hosting the event as part of the monthlong Leif Eriksson International Festival. Erdahl became familiar with Halverson’s translations while researching the music of Grieg, the 19th century Norwegian composer. Halverson has translated Grieg’s song texts, as well as letters, diaries, articles and speeches. Halverson “is the recognized authority,” Erdahl said.
In addition to translating Garborg’s poems, Halverson collaborated with Norwegian composer Kjell Habbestad to set 12 of them to music. The resulting composition, “The Temptations of Veslemøy,” will premiere on Sunday, Nov. 2, at Minneapolis’ Mindekirken (Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church).
For Halverson, translating poetry is as much about communicating the poet’s artistry as it is about conveying literal meaning. “It’s about trying to preserve the beauty and the passion,” he told me when I reached him at his home in Edina. “A good translation of a poem preserves 100% of the beauty, 100% of the poetry, while staying as close as possible to the meaning.”
Halverson has long been interested in his Norwegian heritage. He first visited Norway as a college student in 1950 but didn’t become professionally engaged with the language until retiring from his career as an academic — first as a philosophy and religion professor at Augsburg University, then as an associate dean at Ohio State University. Around the time of his retirement, he was asked to translate into English what became the definitive biography of Grieg.
Halverson said that Garborg’s notoriety as a poet, especially outside of Scandinavian countries, owes much to Grieg’s “Haugtussa, Op. 67” (“The Mountain Maid”), which sets eight of the poems to music. Before taking on Garborg’s full collection of 70 poems, he translated the ones Grieg used. In 2021, soprano Melissa Holm-Johansen performed his translations — again at Norway House.
“Having gotten that far, I wanted to know more about this heroine of Grieg’s song cycle,” Halverson said. “Her name was Veslemøy. So I went back and read the whole book, and I thought, Wow! There’s so much more to Veslemøy than we find in Grieg’s songs.”
With each translation, he aims to write what the author would have written had they been writing in the translated language. “A good poetic translation should not sound like a translation. It should be totally at home in the new language,” Halverson said. “To the extent that I have succeeded, it should sound as if Garborg were a skillful writer of poetry in the English language.”
Halverson received help with the translation from composer Kjell Habbestad, whom he first met in 1982. Habbestad’s Norwegian dialect is similar to the style used by Garborg in the original publication, allowing him to help decipher the poem’s nuances.
Related: Spectacular musicianship lifts the Guthrie’s ‘The Ruins’
Throughout the process, Halverson and Habbestad exchanged hundreds of emails. Halverson recalls at one point saying, “‘Kjell, this poem is crying out for a musical setting. Let’s mark that.’” By the time they finished, the two artists identified 12 poems that told a larger story. “That’s how “The Temptations of Veslemøy” came into being,” Halverson said.
While Grieg’s piece focuses on the part of Garborg’s epic where Veslemøy falls in love, is jilted, and becomes heartbroken, Halverson and Habbestad focus on a unique plot twist: “What’s most important about Veslemøy is that she is clairvoyant. And because of her clairvoyance, this sixth sense, she gets into all kinds of difficulties.”
The Edvard Grieg Society’s “Poetry Cafe” event celebrating the launch of Halverson’s new book will include dramatic readings by Norwegian actress Wenche Strømdal, performances of Grieg’s “Haugtussa” songs by soprano Melissa Holm-Johansen and pianist Bryon Wilson, and remarks by Halverson. There will also be a reception, book-signing, and piano music by Petra Bjørkhaug. It takes place Saturday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m. at Norway House, 913 E Franklin Ave., Minneapolis ($15). More information here.
The world premiere of “The Temptations of Veslemøy” takes place at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Nov. 2, at Mindekirken, 924 E 21st St., Minneapolis (free), preceded by a gala luncheon at Norway House at 2 p.m. ($30). Performing are soprano Melissa Holm-Johansen, alto Judith Melander, baritone Justin Spenner, oboist Carrie Vecchione, bassist Rolf Erdahl, and pianist Bryon Wilson. Habbestad and Halverson will both be in attendance. More information here.
The post A master of Norwegian translation brings new life to an epic poem, as a book and onstage appeared first on MinnPost.
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
