There are a multitude of concerts, events and exhibitions during the festival, however, the main attraction is the music play of "Lady Arbuthnott - The mistress of Elverhøy" (Lady Arbuthnott - Frua på Elverhøy), by Norwegian playwright, Stig Nilsson with music by Lars Ramsøy-Halle.
It's a story about love and sorrow, abundance and poverty. Stig Nilsson - who wrote the libretto for the musical, said this about Barbara:
"For me the story of Lady Arbuthnott, is the story of the woman who lost everything."
The play is based on a true history of Barbara Arbuthnott, who come to Sunndal in 1866 for her honeymoon. She and her third husband, William Arbuthnott, fell in love with the Norwegian nature, the valley, the mountains and the fishing in the Driva river. The visit was repeated the next two years before she decided to settled in Sunndalsøra. In the summer of 1968 she bought half of the farm Løykja, consumption Elverhøy. The farm is now a heritage park, located on Grøa in Sunndal municipality.
Because of her strong personality and her active involvement in the community, she was legendary in her own lifetime. She made the Victoria Era a part of the culture and lifestyle of Sunndal local history. In the vernacular, she was eventually titled as "Sunndals uncrowned queen".
This years is 18 consecutive years for the music play.
Because of the annual festival I will from tomorrow on stay in Sunndalsøra for work, and I am really looking forward for it!
After all, Sunndal is well know for her wild and beautiful scenery with alpine mountains and fjords.
