First stage production of Ibsen's Peer Gynt with Grieg's incidental music

Premiere. The first stage production of Peer Gynt took place in Christiania, now known as Oslo, on 24 February 1876. The performance utilized original music composed by Edvard Grieg. This event established the play's theatrical presence with specific musical accompaniment, distinct from its earlier literary publication. The city was referred to as Christiania at the time, making 'Oslo' an anachronistic designation for the 1876 location.

Music. Edvard Grieg composed the incidental music for the play, which included excerpts such as "In the Hall of the Mountain King" and "Morning Mood." The play was first performed with this original music by Grieg. Grieg later extracted two suites from the incidental music, which became popular as concert music. In an 1874 letter, before the premiere, he expressed dissatisfaction with "In the Hall of the Mountain King," describing it as reeking of exaggerated Norwegian nationalism.