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this programme magazine
IN ENGLISH WE ARE THE PEOPLE CREATING ELEKTRA IN UMEÅ 2014 ARTISTIC TEAM Conductor Rumon Gamba Artistic Concept & Director La Fura dels Baus, Carlus Padrissa Associate Director Esteban Muñoz Choreographer Mireia Romero Costume and Make-up Designer Clara Sullà Lighting Designer Carles Rigual SPFX Thomas Bautenbacher Sound Designer Lars Wern CAST Elektra Ingela Brimberg Chrysothemis Susanna Levonen Clytaimnestra Ingrid Tobiasson Orestes Thomas Lander Aigisthos Magnus Kyhle First Maid Margaretha Dalhamn Second Maid/Trainbearer Agneta Lundgren Third Maid Katarina Leoson Fourth Maid Sara Olsson Fifth Maid/Confidante Karin Andersson Overseer Anneli Lindfors A Young Servant Niklas Björling Rygert Tutor/An Old Servant Lennart Forsén N ORRLANDSOPERAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TECHNICAL TEAM – LA FURA DELS BAUS Technical Director Jaume Grau Producer Ignacia Delpiano Pyrotechnician Robert Stoiber Riggers Anigami – Josep Padros, José Casals, Antonio Tauste Video BAF General de Catalunya – Joan Fericgla & Raimon Boza Costume Assistant Montserrat Pérez Ramos Architect Xavier Arriola La Fura dels Baus Manager Rosa Arnaiz Designers of the Giants: Elektra & Chrysothemis Roland Olbeter, Esterina Zarrillo & Carlos de la Madrid Orestes Jaume Grau Chrysothemis & Aigisthos Carlus Padrissa Builders of the Giants: Elektra & Chrysothemis Masters Orestes, Chrysothemis & Aigisthos Mobra PRODUCTION TEAM – NORRLANDSOPERAN CEO/Artistic Director Kjell Englund Producer Britta Amft Assistant Producer Joachim Stridsberg Stage Manager Tarja Ylinen Musical Rehearsals Tommy Gafvelin and Mattias Holmström Production Assistant Minna Lindahl Text Operator Eva Blommé Visual Interpreter Ingrid Gunnarsson Perneholm TRANSLATION Swedish Text Ankie Lagerborg English Text Peter Kreiss TECHNICAL TEAM NORRLANDSOPERAN Technical Director Håkan Brohlin SET DESIGN AND PROPS Manager Jeanette Andersson Prop Designers Emelie Eriksson, Sofia Stattin, Linnea Öhrlund Interns Tomas, Nygren, Moa Gröhn, Lin Larsson Performance Prop Managers Jakob Petersson, Peter Mollwing WARDROBE Production Costume Manager Susanne Lidgren Costume Managers Maria Öhgren Hedberg, Sandra Wahlström Seamstresses Emma Olsson, Kitty Grenholm, Rebecka Nygren, Terése Larsson, Lotta Lundstedt WIGS & MAKE-UP Make-up Artist Sari Nuttunen Second Make-up Artist Isabel Löfgren Roberts Intern Fanni Jokimäki CARPENTRY & METALWORK Manager Thomas Olofsson Carpenter Viktor Eriksson SCENIC PAINTING Scenery Manager Maja Johansson Scenic Artist Olof Röckner COSTUME TECHNICIANS Production Manager Costume Technician Anna Eliasson Costume Technicians Ida Persson, Cornelia Andersson, Herman Sundqvist Lindelöf, Ella Bartos LIGHTING Manager Jonas Kristoffersson Head of Lighting Emma Magnhagen Lighting Technician Jessika Flodell Spotlights Charlotte Vennberg, Daniel Eriksson, Albin Bilar, Jessika Flodell STAGE Manager Erik Klingberg Head of Stage Stefan Sandgren Stage Technicians Anders Nyberg, Tom Eriksson, Emmanuel Klingberg, Pär Granberg, Emil Forsberg, Daniel Edin, Thomas Berglund staff from Humpab Stage and Orchestra Technician August Klingberg Music Score Librarian Ingrid Modin Söderberg Conductor’s Assistant Emil Eliasson MARKETING DEPARTMENT Head of Marketing Magnus Mikaelsson Marketers Helene Säfström, Hanna Kangassalo, Malin Lindberg, Michelle Stensson Larsson, Frida Helgesson (intern) Graphic Designer Carl Papworth Reception & Box Office Manager Susanne Aschan Usher Manager Sven Lundberg Ticket Sales Bitte Lundström, Anton Karlsson, Cecilia Hällqvist, Emma-Stina Wallberg Receptionists Anette Molin, Emma Grundström EXTRAS Agnes Sundbom, Alicia Axelsson Borgström, Amanda Engström, Anette Bergström, Anna Ruotimaa, AnnaLo Fjellström, Daniela Holmberg Emma Anstey, Felicia Högnelid, Frida Sahlström Hanna Sahlin, Ida Vestman, Ingela Hofsten, Irma Olofsson, Isa Svensson Gabara, Josefin Åhlström Riklund, Julia Larsson Olofsson, Linnea Öhlund, Linnéa Jonsson, Maja Delborn, Malin Sehlstedt Malin Näsbom, Mimmi Rosendahl Carlsson Miriam Matson, Natalie Carrion, Rebecka Andersson, Renée Nyberg, Sara Lahti, Signe Svallfors, Siri Englund, Susanna Junyent, Susan Mokhtaria, Ulrika Karlsson, Bo Linder, Petter Danielsson, Emma Edström, Emrik Albrechtsson Tage Nilsson, Jamilla Strömberg, Erik Jensen, Ludvig Lindström, Terese Nilsen THANK YOU To the staff at Umestan Business Park, our ushers, Hasse & Micke at Martinssons, Midgård School and to Nordglöd the horse. © Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd., London / Gehrmans Musikförlag AB, Stockholm. LA FURA DELS BAUS Cecilia Sundkvist, Elin Ek Special thanks to Pera Cussö, Bhagawati Padrissa, Baydy Syllah, Paloma Méndez, Ferran Sarri In memoriam Agustí Grau & Gerard Mortier The artistic directors of La Fura dels Baus are: Miquel Badosa, Pep Gatell, Jürgen Müller, Alex Ollé, Carlus Padrissa, Pere Tantinyà Supported by Institut Català de les Empreses Culturals and Instituto Nacional de las Artes Escénicas y de la Música SOUND ENGINEERING, DM AUDIO NORRLANDSOPERAN SPONSORS CAR DRIVER Mats Palmgren CRANE DRIVERS Niclas Nordensson, Anette Fredrik Conradsson Roger Stenman CATERING Sound Technicians: Wincent Höberg, Daniek Eriksson, Kristian Oscarsson, Marino Fererri and Drew Black ADMINISTRATION Deputy CEO and Administrative Director Per Edlund Secretary to the CEO Eivor Johansson Planning Coordinator Elin Liljebring Head Clerk/Controller Katarina Zingmark HR Administrator Elisabeth Viklund IT Manager Jonas Igasto IT Technician Alexander Henriksson House Technician Ingemar Hällgren Assistant John Häggström Cleaners Ulrika Fjellvind, Cecilia Vestman ORCHESTRA ADMINISTRATION Head of Music Department Marco Feklistoff Balticgruppen, VK, Umeå Energi, UPAB, Bostaden, Frövi skor and EY PRODUCTION PROGRAMME MAGAZINE Legally Responsible Publisher Kjell Englund Texts Marketing Department & Elin Axelsson Design Magnus Mikaelsson, Carl Papworth Blood Photo Emil Nyström Print Daily Print WE WISH TO GIVE YOU AN EXPERIENCE YOU’LL NEVER FORGET MECHANICAL GIANTS with singers standing inside their chests. A fiery drama in a sea of blood. Elektra is like nothing we’ve ever done before. For us it is a monumental production, a massive undertaking, and – we hope – an experience that will linger in our collective memory for a long time to come. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve seen loads of opera before, or just a little, or none at all. There’s something here to touch everyone and grab your attention: the bloody theme of vengeance, the expressionist music of Richard Strauss, the soprano part that is regarded as one of the world’s most challenging to sing, the magnificent scenes featuring giants, blood, fire and water – against the backdrop of the West Bothnian twilight. We are proud to be able to put on this production during celebrations to mark the European Capital of Culture Year and N orrlandsOperan’s 40th an niversary. Come and share the experience with us. In Umeå, August 2014. Kjell Englund CEO & Artistic Director Photo: Hanna Degerström E LEKTRA EPITOMISES THE FUNDAMENTAL IDEA BEHIND EUROPEAN CAPITALS OF CULTURE IN 1985, ATHENS was the European Capital of Culture. It was the project’s debut. Many other cities have borne this prestigious title since then. However, the basic premise has remained the same – the city as a forum that brings together the local and the international, for a vast range of cultural expressions and cultural practitioners from across the globe. NorrlandsOperan’s Elektra appears to fulfil all these fundamental elements under a single programme item. It has all the components that form a European City of Culture, and on top of that it features a theme that reflects Europe’s history. Fredrik Lindegren Artistic Director, Umeå 2014 Photo: Andreas Nilsson Part of In collaboration with Principle sponsors Supported by La Fura dels Baus is supported by << One of the moving metal giants that has been transported from Barcelona to be part of Elektra. CATALAN CREATIVITY & WEST BOTHNIAN LIGHT 1979 saw the birth of one of the most innovative dramatic arts collectives in Europe, La Fura dels Baus. With Barcelona as their base and the whole world as their arena, they create astounding performances in mega format. And now it’s Umeå’s turn! LA FURA DELS BAUS began their journey with urban street theatre and by the 1980s they had established themselves as a cult group in Spain. Their international breakthrough came when they staged the opening ceremony of the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992, with Carlus Padrissa at the helm. The performance Mar Mediterrani, Mar Olímpic, captivated half a billion viewers around the world. Since then, the group has continued to create spectacular, large-scale artistic projects around the world, featuring breath taking stage solutions. FLOATING CULTURAL CENTRE One worth mentioning is the sixtymetre long and nine-metre wide vessel Naumon. She was restored by La Fura dels Baus from a transport barge into a floating cultural centre and equipped for concerts, performances, exhibitions and workshops. The ship sailed the world’s seas putting on various performances in harbours, on the deck or in the ship’s cargo space, or at venues in the cities they were visiting. The event Los Fusilamientos de Goya (2008) was performed and watched by half a million people during the two-hundredth anniversary of the Dos de Mayo Uprising in Madrid. La Fura and Carlus Padrissa’s later projects also include the striking staging of Verdi’s Aida on the world-famous outdoor stage in Verona (2013). Elektra will mark La Fura dels Baus’ first production in Sweden. Photo: La Fura dels Baus AN ELEKTRA SHOCK! We asked Carlus Padrissa, director and charismatic frontman in La Fura dels Baus, to say why you musn’t miss Elektra. – BECAUSE THIS IS a once-in-alifetime experience! It’s completely unique, even for us at La Fura dels Baus, and we’ve put on a huge number of major events over the past thirty years. But nothing like this ! – This is the first time the fate of Elektra’s dysfunctional family has been staged in this way, on this scale, outdoors. We’re going to have a stage that measures two hundred metres in depth – just imagine it! You could be in an aeroplane and look down to see Agamemnon’s grave spreading out beneath you. A BIT LIKE PIPPI LONGSTOCKING – Elektra carries her past around on her back. It’s an extremely heavy, large and sprawling burden to bear, and the enormous giant with unruly hair is an expression of that very feeling. Elektra is actually a bit like Pippi Longstocking – brave and strong, with fiery hair! Carlus Padrissa talks about the West Bothnian twilight as something that lends added atmosphere. It will provide the performance with a unique backdrop. There’s plenty of symbolism here for those who seek beyond the obvious. A forest at Midgård School will burst into flames at each performance and several thousand litres of blood will flow. Carlus comments: A TALE OF EUROPE – It’s about much more than just Elektra’s vengeance. This is Europe! Agamemnon’s grave – the setting – represents our entire continent. As we created the performance we thought about all the wars that have been played out here over the centuries. The blood will be a reminder of the death and suffering that millions of people have experienced. When we ask Carlus what feelings he wants to evoke in the audience, he immediately replies: – I want to give you an Elektra shock! << Carlus Padrissa, director of Elektra, describes N orrlandsOperan’s production of Elektra as entirely unique, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. THE PLOT THE STORY SO FAR: In order to get wind in his sails on embarking the Trojan War, King Agamemnon had to sacrificed his youngest daughter Ifigenia to the gods. Upon his return he is murdered by his wife Clytaimnestra and her lover Aigisthos. But then Clytaimnestra becomes uneasy. What if her three remaining children, Elektra, Chrysothemis or Orestes, want vengeance for their father’s death? IT BEGINS. Maids are cleaning the palace courtyard and gossiping about how moody Elektra has been since the murder of her father Agamemnon. In solitude Elektra prays to her father and swears to avenge his death. It was to this place, the palace courtyard, that her mother and Aigisthos dragged Agamemnon’s lifeless body after murdering him in the bath. Elektra’s younger sister Chrysothemis turns up E LEKTRA – THE STORY OF THE WORLD’S MOST DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY? and interrupts Elektra and begs her to stop thinking of vengeance. Can’t they just live happy, normal lives ? Their mother approaches. Chrysothemis leaves, Elektra remains. A stranger approaches and asks for Clytaimnestra and Aigisthos. He tells Elektra that he brings news of Orestes’s death, but then whispers in her ear that he is actually alive. SACRIFICE A SINFUL WOMAN Elektra’s mother Clytaimnestra begs her daughter for help. She’s on the verge of collapse from worry and wants to appease the gods with a sacrifice of her own. Elektra asks her to sacrifice a sinful woman. “But what shall bleed”, asks the mother. “Your own neck !” threatens Elektra. Elektra, overwhelmed by her feelings, begins to tell the stranger where to find her mother. He interrupts her and asks: “Does Elektra not recognise her own brother ?” – He is Orestes. Her sister Chrysothemis returns with terrible news: Orestes is dead. Elektra now demands that Chrysothemis helps her kill their mother and Aigisthos, but Chrysothemis refuses. Elektra digs up the axe that was used to murder their father. Orestes now enters the palace and Elektra listens breathlessly outside. Soon we hear Clytaimnestra’s death cry. Elektra shows Aigisthos into the palace and he soon meets the same fate. Elektra’s struggle is over. She thanks the gods and launches into a frenzied dance. With a width of 40 metres and a depth of almost 200 metres, the stage construction that is taking shape at the old military command centre Umestan is the world’s largest opera stage. Transforming a car park into a stage venue is something that requires special material, equipment, skilled staff and a heavy dose of creativity and problem-solving expertise. Photo: Viyan Ateaa << Creating a 100-metre long shape of a man out of sand is one of the challenges that Erik Klingberg and his team of stage technicians had to get to grips with during the work at Umestan. Here he is with Tom Eriksson and Anders Nyberg, strengthening the bank that will hold the volumes of water in place. Photo: Britta Amft << You can just make out the outlines of what will be Agamemnon’s grave. Photo: Viyan Ateaa << An average day at the office? An articulated truck from Spain carries an unusual load of aluminium figures and several massive fibre glass body parts. Photo: Viyan Ateaa << The torso of one of the giants has just arrived from Barcelona. Next stage: assembly and dressing. << One of the three container towers that will be filled with the blood that will flood the venue. Photo: Viyan Ateaa << 21 trees that will be rigged with pyrotechnics during the performance have been planted in the barrack square. One of them is being inspected here to ensure that it will cope with the strain. Photo: Britta Amft S USSIE & ANNA I N CATALONIA << Anna has been desperately searching for a hat with a bit of attitude and discovered these pirate creations in a shop window. Perfect in terms of style, but since the sizes weren’t right they had to stay on the manikins. This is what Clara looks like in action. In the photo she’s working on one of the soloist’s dresses, in a slightly more manageable format compared with the giants’ clothing. Or how about a six-metre long dress? << When Susanne Lidgren and Anna Eliasson from N orrlandsOperan’s Costume Department went on holiday to Spain, it wasn’t just to eat tapas, drink sangria and experience some culture. When they got to Barcelona they took the opportunity to meet up with Clara Sullà, costume designer for Elektra. Read on to find out more about their experiences. << Sussie poses in front of the chubby cat “El gat del Raval”. The statue wasn’t made by Gaudi or Picasso as many assume, but by the Colombian artist Fernando Botero. << A must-photo for any travelogue – the airport. The name needs to be clear, and there should preferably be part of a plane in it. We give ourselves a four for this masterpiece. << Clara with Elektra’s head and “wig”. The hair is made of tubing and wire attached to fabric, which means the wig can be taken off and reused. Just over 200 metres of tubing were used to get the right hairdo. << Barcelona’s equivalent to N orrlandsOperan, the Gran Teatro del Liceu. Not as beautiful as in Umeå, but the climate’s almost as pleasant. Each dress took roughly 60 m2 of fabric to make, which meant that although the actual sewing wasn’t particularly advanced, it was time-consuming due to the sheer amount of material. << And here’s Clara, our fantastic costume designer for Elektra. And as if creating incredible costumes wasn’t enough, she also knew where the best restaurants were! Win-Win! >> THE ULTIMATE TEST OF STRENGTH Expressive, intense and strong. Elektra is rock for the operatic stage. “It’s an opera that plays on all our emotions,” says Ingela Brimberg, one of Sweden’s foremost sopranos and NorrlandsOperan’s Elektra. A SYMBOL OF vengeance and reckless fury, but also a human being of flesh and blood. Ingela Brimberg sees a multi-layered Elektra in Richard Strauss’ opera. – What she experiences in this extremely dysfunctional family is as much a psychological drama as it is a classic tragedy about the desire for vengeance. There is a fascinating dynamic in the tale. Particularly between the three women, Elektra, her sister and mother, and how they play on one another’s emotions. It’s like a play by Lars Norén, but more violent. MUSIC LENDS STRENGTH A woman obsessed by what has happened. Life is passing her by. That’s how Ingela Brimberg describes her Elektra. At the same time she’s keen to avoid too much speculation on the role. Elektra is a timeless drama for the artists to portray and the audience to interpret. There is passion and emotion in the music to lend support to the inexplicable, according to Ingela. “IT’S SCARY & EXCITING AT THE SAME TIME.” – Even if she is a sick person, I don’t think it’s difficult to understand her feelings. For me it’s about being able to relate to the character. I don’t need to be able to make sense of everything, just as Elektra is a person who doesn’t make sense of everything – and ends up doing things that are incomprehensible. YOU NEED TO BE FIT Elektra makes demands on her woman. The role is one of the most challenging in the world of opera, both theatrically and in terms of singing technique. For a dramatic soprano like Ingela Brimberg, Elektra is the ultimate test of strength. – You need to be fit, experienced and have a big range. It’s not exactly the kind of role you’d do fresh out of school. You have to really put your all into it. Personally I’ve been working on the role from the moment I was asked if I wanted to do Elektra, says Ingela. QUICK COURSE OF THERAPY An open-air opera on a huge scale places considerable demands on its soloists: Ingela Brimberg will play her Elektra six metres up in the air. A challenge for a soprano who’s afraid of heights. – It’s scary and exciting at the same time. I’ll just have to go through a quick course of therapy up there in the steel basket! You can read more about Ingela Brimberg in her biography on page 16. Photo: Malin Arnesson POWERFUL, INTENSE, MAGNIFICENT “When I first saw Elektra I think I literally sat on the edge of my seat, with my hair on end for the whole piece – I can’t even remember breathing, I was completely blown away,” says Rumon Gamba, NorrlandsOperan’s principal conductor. – WHEN RICHARD Strauss composed the opera Elektra he was really pushing the boundaries for what you can do with a symphony orchestra, says conductor Rumon Gamba, who is now leading NorrlandsOperan Symphony Orchestra in their biggest ever production. Strauss’ powerful and intense music is perfectly suited to a performance of this scale. – Every detail of the opera’s plot is reflected in the music. When combined with the incredible staging, all the emotions of the drama will come to the fore, says Rumon. ORCHESTRA INDOORS Playing Elektra in the open air at Umestan is a challenge that requires innovative solutions. The symphony orchestra will be indoors next to the stage area, to avoid the instruments being affected by weather conditions. – Naturally it’s no easy task to coordinate the orchestra with the singers within such a large area. Not working the way we usually do presents a challenge in itself. But there are no comfort zones in this opera, and new technical solutions have raised it to another level! ENDURANCE TEST Elektra is considered to be one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult opera for an orchestra to play. – It’s an extremely demanding piece for each individual musician purely in technical terms. It’s complicated, with many levels in the orchestration and a lot going on at the same time – on top of that it’s something of an endurance test... And there is no more demanding soloist role than that of Elektra. She’s on stage without a break for the entire performance, with long, difficult singing sections, and she’s competing with a huge orchestra! The role is being played by Ingela Brimberg. Read the interview with her on page 10! Rumon Gamba, Principal Conductor at NorrlandsOperan >> Photo: Malin Arnesson THE INHUMAN C OMPOSER Richard Strauss was born on 11 June 1864 in Munich, and is one of the most influential composers from around the turn of the century. With his advanced and refined tonal language, clearly inspired by Richard Wagner, Strauss himself has become an inspiration to others. RICHARD STRAUSS wrote his first piece of music as a six-year-old and then continued to compose throughout the rest of his life. His final work, Vier letzte Lieder, was completed just months before he died at the age of 85. He is probably best known to the wider public for Also sprach Zarathustra, largely owing to Stanley Kubrick’s use of it for the introductory fanfare in his film 2001: A Space Odyssey. As an opera composer his breakthrough came with Salome in 1905. The opera, which is based on Oscar Wilde’s drama of the same name, was positively received by audiences and critics alike, despite the expressionist, raw and aggressive music. AUDIENCE FLED However, Elektra, which premiered in 1909, provoked an entirely different response. The brutal, dissonant harmonic language used by Strauss to illustrate the plot was just too much for the audience, who fled the auditorium shrieking and nauseaus. Several of the soloists also realised that the work was inhuman, and in particular the lead, with its demanding vocal sections. After Elektra, Strauss changed style completely and instead began composing pieces that audiences of the time wanted to hear. Easy listening and harmonious were the order of the day. But although the later operas are still played a great deal, Elektra is now considered to be his magnum opus. STRAUSS 150 YEARS This year, 150 years after the birth of Strauss, we are marking this trailblazer through a large-scale, open-air production of Elektra. Hurray! N ORRLANDSOPERAN’S SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA NorrlandsOperan’s Symphony Orchestra usually numbers 47 musicians, but we have brought in reinforcements for Elektra with an additional 27 people to cope with performing the work in the required manner. And it is these 74 individuals who will breathe life into Strauss’ powerful music. Violin 1 Karin Eriksson Joel Nyman Andreas Olsson Hedda Heiskanen Matias Malmqvist Mikhail Zatin Nicole Ladenthin Violin 2 Pontus Björk Kersti Wilhelmsson Torbjörn Näsbom Lars Warnstad Åsa Hjelm Johannes Paulsson Anders Unnersjö Photo: Malin Arnesson What is now NorrlandsOperan’s Symphony Orchestra was initially a military brass band, formed in 1841. In conjunction with the founding of orrlandsOperan in 1974, a string section was added, and in 1991 the orchestra took on its current form and formal status as a symphony N orchestra. SO MUCH MORE THAN A SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA THE ORCHESTRA is currently made up of 47 professional musicians who, besides their own series of concerts, also have an important role as the opera orchestra for N orrlandsOperan’s opera productions. The orchestra also goes on regular tours both around the region and the county, as well as to other parts of Sweden and abroad. Sometimes sections of the orchestra are put together to make up small ensembles for other Violin 3 Fredrik Syberg Per-Erik Andersson Eva-Britt Molander Ola Lindgård Victor Mobäck Håkan Svedell types of assignments linked to the company’s performances for children and young people, and NorrlandsOperan’s dance productions. Grammy nomination NorrlandsOperan’s Symphony Orchestra has re ceived international acclaim on several occasions for its recordings. For the recording of Hilding Rosenberg’s opera Lycksalighetens ö they and the Viola 3 Viktor Olauson Jaan Ader Edward Tapceanu Bård Ericson Kjetil Laukholm Cello 1 Martin Smith Björn Risberg Frida Bromander Flute Eva Oscarsson Ferner Maria Åström Pepita del Rio Viola 1 Pär Lindqvist Cello 2 Örjan Haage Karin Bjurman Ragnhild Qvale-Hammer Kristina Tereschatov Kerstin Isakson Viola 2 Nicolai Tchistiakoff Double bass Per Modin Jan-Emil Kuisma Sophie Bretschneider Charlotte Petersson Oboe Johannes Ögren Susanna Berger Cor anglais Martin von Bahr Clarinet Bengt Sandström Tomas Agnas Jonas Losciale Jonas Olsson Hakelind Bassoon Annika Wallin Emanuel Johansson Maria Hellström French horn Trine Bjerke Magnus Wretblad Anders Kjellberg Lene Aadalen Skomedal P-O Winberg rest of the ensemble were awarded the Swedish Grammis music prize, and the CD Urban Concertos – Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra, with music by the American composer David Chesky, was nominated for an American Grammy Award in 2008. The Symphony Orchestra’s current principal conductor is Englishman Rumon Gamba, who joined in autumn 2009. Trumpet Per Ivarsson Malin Silbo Ohlsson Jonas Larsson Marcus Petersson Michael Streijffert Daniel Lind Trombone Peter Nygren Daniel Hedin Mathias Petersson Tuba Linus Mattsson Timpani Hans Lindbäck David Kangasniemi Percussion Mats Lindström Per Mikaelsson Andreas Berglund Harp Pia Rosengren Patrizia Carciani IMPORTANT INFORMAT Open-air performances create a very special atmosphere and of course we are reliant on the weather being good. N orrlandsOperan will perform the opera even in adverse weather conditions – provided the singers are able to sing. PERFORMANCE INFORMATION Performance days 14.8, 16.8, 19.8, 21.8 and 23.8, with 24.8 as a reserve day. Start time 9.00 p.m., entry from 6.00 p.m. Duration approx. 100 minutes with no intermission Venue Umestan Business Park ( old I 20 ) Language the performance will be sung in German with Swedish and English subtitles. TICKET OFFICE We recommend that you purchase your tickets in advance, either from NorrlandsOperan’s Ticket Office, or online at norrlandsoperan.se or ticnet. se. There will be an onsite ticket booth at the venue at Umestan before each performance, open 7.00–9.00 p.m. NB: There will be no admittance once the performance has started – purchased tickets will not be refunded or repurchased. Cast changes may occur and do not entitle ticket holders to a ticket repurchase or any other form of compensation. VISUAL INTERPRETATION, WHEELCHAIRS, HEARING LOOPS The performance on 16 August will be visually inter- preted in Swedish. Preliminary booking is required and can be submitted to NorrlandsOperan’s Ticket Office ( contact details below ). Limited space. There will be hearing loops on rows 1–4 and in the wheelchair sections. Wheelchair spaces will be located to the front of the right and left hand sides. You can reach NorrlandsOperan’s ticket office by phone on 090-15 43 47 and via e-mail at biljetter@norrlandsoperan.se. There will be no compensation if a performance is interrupted more than 60 minutes into the performance. RESTAURANT & BAR On the performance days 14, 16, 19, 21 and 23.8, everyone who is buying or has already purchased tickets to Elektra will have the opportunity to book a three-course dinner at Rex Officersmessen. Further information is available at www.rexbar.com. Contact Rex Bar & Grill direct for table reservations by telephone 090-70 60 50 or via e-mail at rex@rexbar.com. State Elektra-supé when booking. In addition Rex Officersmessen will be running a bar with refreshments in the grandstand area. The bar will offer beer, wine, soft drinks, water, coffee, snacks and simple meal alternatives. The bar will be open from 6.00 p.m. on the performance days. SVERIGES TELEVISION FILMING The performances on 21.8 and 23.8 will be filmed and broadcast by Sveriges Television. Audience members at these performances accept that they may be filmed and that they may appear in the footage. INTERRUPTED OR CANCELLED PERFORMANCE If a performance needs to be interrupted less than 60 minutes into the performance – or is cancelled altogether – the price of the ticket will be refunded provided that the original ticket is returned. The ticket can be returned up to one month after the performance. PLEASE NOTE: No food or drink is permitted outside the serving area. No umbrellas are permitted in the grandstand as they block the view for those behind you. AUDIENCE GRANDSTAND OVERVIEW ACCESSIBILITY There are places for wheelchair users and those accompanying them right at the front of sections A and F. ROWS 22–27 A Hearing loops are available in rows 1–4 Visual interpretation at performance on 16.8 B C D E 17 F ROWS 15–21 ROWS 8–14 72 ROWS 1–7 1 ENTRANCES TO GRANDSTAND 12 23 1 2 44 49 3 STAGE 66 77 4 5 88 TION ABOUT THE EVENT UMESTAN OVERVIEW a Tow P b Ers oda 5 rds P 4 2 3 1 6 a Tow rds 7 ci t y ce n t re 1. Entrance/ticket office Entry from 6.00 p.m., ticket sales 7.00 – 8.45 p.m. 2. Audience grandstand Can hold 2,000 people; see detailed plan on left for sections, rows and entrances. 3. Stage The venue for Elektra. 4. Toilets Including disabled toilet. 5. Bar, Rex Bar selling beer, wine, water etc., snacks and fast-food options. 6. Rex Officersmessen This is where the Elektra dinner is served. Further information & reservations at www.rexbar.com 7. Entrance to Officersmessen Entrance for those going to Officersmessen Pera “A tsunami of blood will wash over the gravel pitch.” That was one of the director’s visions for Elektra. Props designer Emelie Eriksson is one of the people making sure it becomes reality. SHE TURNS WATER INTO BLOOD –IT’S MOSTLY about finding the right colour and consistency for the fluid. But when I see it pouring out of the containers, I’m sure it’ll be thrilling. Then it will be blood. Emelie Eriksson is a member of the props team and together with the Props Manager Jeanette Andersson she has the responsibility for making the props for N orrlandsOperan’s biggest ever production, Elektra. WANTED TO WORK WITH DOLPHINS She originally wanted to be a dolphin trainer, but the dream came to an end when she did work experience at a dolphinarium. – The animals were happy, but I just couldn’t get away from the fact that they were captive in a little pool, when they could have been swimming free in the ocean, she says. Following studies in art and furniture upholstery, she finally discovered her vocation on a set design/ prop making course in Skellefteå. After that she worked for a while with tiny models and buildings and settings for adverts and TV. Now she’s working with a completely different format. – We’re enlarging everything and constantly asking ourselves: ‘Can you see this at a distance of fifty metres?’ If you can’t, then it loses its impact. BLOOD-FILLED VEINS The smallest parts that Emelie and her colleagues work with are “blood-filled” tubes reminiscent of veins, and debris that floats along in the gushing blood. Then you have to think along more practical lines when it comes to clearing up afterwards. It needs to be easy to pick up or shovel aside. – After all, someone has to tidy up after each performance. MINI TSUNAMIS The set designers have been working on the blood for a long time, including rigorous testing. Emelie shows her “blood cart”, where bottles containing various dye solutions have been left to settle. In some of them the dye particles have sunk to the bottom, while in others the mixture still looks convincing after a week or two. On the computer she shows film clips of the various “mini tsunamis” they’ve created out in the backyard of the opera house. – The blood needs to flow well, not sink into the gravel too quickly. It has to look red, not pink, and of course it should have the minimum impact on the environment, she explains. This August it’ll be time for the blood to flow for real. And the straw to burn. Because blood isn’t the only thing Emelie and her colleagues are working on; props that burn are also on the agenda, and testing has been just as rigorous. – We’re involved in creating magnificent scenes, to put it mildly. It’s going to be incredibly exciting and nerve-racking to see the final performance. The first time I guarantee I’ll be on tenterhooks. Maybe by the second or third time I’ll be able to actually enjoy it. A huge number of tests have been needed to find the right blood solution. It has to look authentic, flow properly and have minimal environmental impact. >> Photo: XX << Emelie Eriksson carrying out one of her blood tests. In August she’ll be on tenterhooks when the blood gushes over the old barrack square at Umestan. GIVE BLOOD SAVE LIVES! Fake blood doesn’t work in healthcare. They need more of the real stuff, all the time. You can save lives by donating a little of your own blood. Most people over the age of 18, are healthy and weigh at least 50 kilos can be blood donors. REGISTER YOUR INTEREST AT GEBLOD.NU Photo: Viyan Ateaa When this year’s Blodomloppet ( blood donation awareness run ) kicked off in Umeå on May 27, NorrlandsOperan was on board. Photo: Göran Jarmar BLOOD, SWE AT & TEARS OF JOY << Just like the run, the opera Elektra’s plot is strongly associated with blood. Wearing “bloody” tshirts, N orrlandsOperan’s lighting technicians Emma Magnhagen and Jessika Flodell make their way through the crowd. NorrlandsOperan provided some of the entertainment on stage and the opera staff entered ten teams. Per Modin, viola player in N orrlandsOperan Symphony Orchestra, walked around the course at a brisk pace. << It felt like the right thing to do to combine awareness of vital blood donation with culture. And on top of that, Clara West, N orrlandsOperan’s dance consultant, thinks it’s fun to do something together. Behind her is Helena Wikström, responsible for the art exhibition space Vita Kuben. << BIOGRAPHIES ARTISTIC TEAM Rumon Gamba, Conductor British conductor Rumon Gamba was born in England in 1972. His career took off after completing his conducting studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and so far he has been involved in assignments for the BBC’s orchestras and several concert and opera houses all over the world, including the Munich Philharmonic, the National Orchestra of Belgium, the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and as principal conductor in Iceland 2002–2010. He has made a name for himself in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China and Japan, and conducted the New York Philharmonic and BBC Proms concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. Rumon has won several awards and was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in 2002. He specialises in film music and has a recording contract with Chandos, which released his Grammynominated Korngold CD. His first time conducting at NorrlandsOperan was in 2007 and Rumon, with his enthusiastic, renowned conducting style, has been principal conductor at NorrlandsOperan since 2009. He is now also principal conductor of Ålborg Symphony Orchestra. Carlus Padrissa, Director & Artistic Concept Carlus Padrissa is one of six members of La Fura dels Baus and a driving force in their monumental performances from the 1980s onwards (find out more on page 4). Carlus Padrissa’s huge capacity as a dramatic arts director has given him a particular affinity with Wagner’s operas and the Indian conductor Zubin Mehta, with whom he did the entire Ring Cycle; The Rhine Gold, The Valkyrie, Siegfried and Twilight of the Gods. Other operas he has directed include Turandot, Michael’s Journey Around the Earth, Carmina Burana, The Trojans, Roman Trilogy and Orpheus & Eurydice. Several early collaborations with Àlex Ollé and sculptor Jaume Plensa include La Atlántida and Le Martyre de Saint Sébastien. With Àlex Ollé he has also directed The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, and DQ. Don Quijote en Barcelona. Other productions include The Damnation of Faust, The Magic Flute, Bluebeard’s Castle and Diary of a Missing Person. He has also directed On the Marble Cliffs, Sunday from Light, Babylon, Parsifal and Samson and Delilah (2013). Esteban Muñoz, Associate Director Esteban Muñoz studied performance, musicology, and art history at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, completing a master’s degree in dramaturgy at the Bavarian Theater Academy. He began his career as stage manager at the Teatro Municipal in Santiago de Chile, where he later acted at assistant director and production manager. He has worked as assistant to such directors as Calixto Bieito, Michael Hampe, Emilio Sagi, Christian Boesch, Rodrigo Navarrete, and Hugo de Ana, in productions of the Teatro Municipal de Santiago, Teatro del Lago (Chile), Lausanne Opera, and at the Prinzregententheater in Munich and numerous open-air opera productions. Since 2011, he has worked closely with Carlus Pa- drissa and La Fura dels Baus. He has frequently been invited to the Bavarian State Opera, where he principally works as an assistant director. Esteban won 2013 the ProArte Price in Chile as Young Artist of the year. His last engagements include the dramaturgy of Claude Vivier’s Kopernikus for the Munich Biennale and Associate Director in Carlus Padrissa’s production of Wagner’s The Rhine Gold at the Houston Grand Opera, USA. Mireia Romero, Choreographer Mireia Romero studied classic and modern ballet in Spain and complemented her training with gardening studies. She has performed in several dance and theatre productions, and one of her major successes was her soloist role in Iago Pericot’s Mozart Nude (1986–1987). From 1988–1998 she worked as a TV production assistant with castings, advertisements, film and music videos. Mireia began working with La Fura dels Baus in 1992, working as stage manager for the opening of the Barcelona Olympic Games, the street theatre troupe O Sona Boom in Rio de Janeiro (1994) and The Damnation of Faust, the Hector Berlioz opera, which was part of the Salzburg Festival (1999). During her time as production assistant and assistant director at La Fura dels Baus she worked on Fausto 3.0, The Ring Cycle, Carmina Burana, Orpheus and Euridice by Gluck, Turandot, The Oresteia, Babylon, Parsifal. In 2007–2008 she was also production manager on the vessel Naumon and its on-board performances. Clara Sullà, Costume Design, Masks & Props Clara Sullà is an artist specialising in textiles. She was born in Barcelona and has a degree in art from Universitat de Barcelona and a master’s from Wimbledon College of Arts in London. Her works have been shown at art galleries in Spain, Austria, France, the UK, Luxembourg, Brazil, Egypt and Mexico. Clara Sullà has lived and worked in Vienna, London and Cairo. At the moment she is living and working in Barcelona, where she designs and makes costumes and props for the stage. Clara Sullà also teaches art and creative techniques at the Faculty of Education at Barcelona University. Lars Wern, Sound Design Lars has been working in the audio industry for many years now and began at the end of the sixties by setting up sound systems for Swedish and foreign artists. He has been involved in some forty theatre productions and a great deal of classical music, including twenty years with the Royal Philharmonic’s annual open-air concerts at Stockholm’s Maritime Museum. Previous major productions for GöteborgsOperan include Die Fledermaus, Carmen and The Phantom of the Opera in arena format, as well as A Chorus Line, The Sound of Music and more at the opera house. Lars has also done opera productions for the Finnish National Opera and a considerable number of musicals for Stockholm City Theatre. At NorrlandsOperan he was involved in the production of West Side Story. Thomas Bautebacher, pyrotechnician Works around the world with mechanics and pyrotechnics for both stage and film. He laid the foundations of his career at the beginning of the 1980s working at the Salzburg Festival, the Burgtheater in Vienna, La Monnaie in Brussels and the Munich Opera. Thomas has been working with La Fura dels Baus for many years and collaborated with directors such as Carlus Padrissa, Mitko Gotscheff, Martin Kusej and Andrea Breth. His love for opera and theatre has continued to develop during his time with La Fura. When it comes to special effects, Thomas’ motto is that anything is possible, but it must also follow the dramaturgic thread. He is currently technical director for Martin Kusej at the Residenztheatre in Munich. Carles Rigual, Lighting Design Barcelona-born Carles Rigual has always been interested in dramatic art in general, specifically sound and lighting techniques. In 1996 he began working as a sound and lighting assistant, and that same year he gained a place at the School of Techniques for the Performing Arts at Institut del Teatre at the university in Catalonia. Having worked as technical director at Malic Theatre, he began his first lighting design assignments in 2002. Since then Carles has continued on his artistic path and worked for a number of different theatres and dance companies, including Erre que Erre. Carles has been working with La Fura since 2001 and designed the lighting for their opera productions Orpheus and Eurydice. Apart from working with dramatic art, Carles also does lighting design for museums, with assignments such as the Picasso exhibition for the Palau Foundation and most recently the exhibition Avatar at Reina Sofia museum in Madrid. SOLOISTS Ingela Brimberg/Elektra Ingela Brimberg trained at the Academy of Music and Drama at the University of Gothenburg. She has performed the lead role in Tosca at GöteborgsOperan (awarded SvD’s Opera prize), at the Finnish National Opera and on tour in Denmark with the Danish National Opera, Den Jyske Opera. She also sang the lead in Aida and Amelia in A Masked Ball at Malmö Opera, Ellen Orrford in Peter Grimes at Sweden’s Royal Opera, Salome at the Teatro Verdi in Trieste and Valentine in Les Huguenots at La Monnaie in Brussels (named best production of the year in 2011 by German magazine Opernwelt). She recently sang her first Senta in The Flying Dutchman at concert performances under the direction of Marc Minkowski (also released on CD). In spring 2014 she sang Lady Macbeth in Verdi’s Macbeth in Toulon. At NorrlandsOperan Ingela Brimberg has previously sung the lead in Jenufa. Susanna Levonen/Chrysothemis, sister Susanna is an employee of N orrlandsOperan. In 2011 she was nominated Singer of the Year by the magazine Opernwelt for her Sieglinde in Wermland Opera’s production of Wagner’s Ring and she was awarded fourth place in the annual top list produced by the magazine Opus. Also in 2011 she sang Marie in N orrlandsOperan’s TV-broadcast Wozzeck, Amneris in Peter Konwitschny’s Aida at Vlaamse Opera in Belgium, Eboli at GöteborgsOperan and was a soloist in the TV-broadcast Thirteen-day Concert at Stockholm’s concert venue Berwaldhallen. Other guest performances include Magda in Konsuln at Folkoperan, Salome at Malmö Opera and Kassel City Theatre in Germany, Marie in Wozzeck at the Pforzheim Theatre in Germany and Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana at Gothenburg Concert Hall. At N orrlandsOperan her most recent role was the lead in Carmen. Future roles include Marie Curie in Mats Larsson Gothe’s new opera Blanche & Marie at NorrlandsOperan. Ingrid Tobiasson/Clytaimnestra, mother Ingrid Tobiasson is a dramatic mezzo-soprano and Royal Court singer. She took up singing seriously at the age of 30. Prior to that she was a Dalcroze instructor, teaching dance, movement and relaxation techniques. During her training at Stockholm’s University College of Opera she debuted in 1985 at Folkoperan as Amneris in Verdi’s Aida, which was also filmed. After several years as a freelancer with engagements at Drottningholm Palace Theatre and guest performances in Europe, Ingrid Tobiasson became an employee of the Royal Opera in Stockholm in 1988. Since then she has played some 60 roles, including Carmen, Clytaimnestra, Suzuki and the Gatekeeper. In 2012 the list was expanded to include La Frugola in a EBU-broadcast concert from Berwaldhallen. Alongside her opera engagements on the stages of Sweden and Europe, she has always found time for her interest in singing romances and concerts. She now combines her singing engagements with teaching. Ingrid Tobiasson’s favourite role is Kundry in Wagner’s final opera, Parsifal. Thomas Lander/Orestes, brother Thomas trained at the Royal College of Music and Stockholm’s University College of Opera and made his opera debut at the Vadstena Academy in 1980. After completing his studies he was invited to sing Count Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, and he played the same role at Staatsoper in Hamburg, which was followed by a permanent contract at Volksoper Vienna. Up until 1995 – 96 he was engaged by Niedersächsische Staatsoper in Hannover but since then he has been working as a freelance opera and concert singer in Sweden and across Europe, with Sweden as his base. Alongside his fixed engagements he has performed several guest appearances and roles, many of which have been at NorrlandsOperan; The Tales of Hoffman, Turandot – which was also filmed by SVT, The Flying Dutchman, the dancetheatre-opera My Heart Breaks, Peter Grimes and the world premiere of Poet and Prophetess, which was also performed at Cape Town Opera in South Africa in 2008. Magnus Kyhle/Aigistos Magnus Kyhle grew up in Stockholm in a family of musicians and trained at the Royal College of Music and University College of Opera in Stockholm. For the past 25 years he has been a member of the Royal Opera’s permanent soloist ensemble, where he has appeared in over 1,000 performances in more than 100 different roles. His most prominent roles include Loge and Mime in Wagner’s Ring, Herodes in Strauss’ Salome and Canio in Leoncavallo’s Pajazzo. Magnus is the Royal Opera’s character tenor and has sung all four tenor parts in over 100 performances of Mozart’s Magic Flute. Magnus has also been employed by the Darmstadt and Salzburg operas and made guest appearances in Germany, Austria and Tokyo. Magnus Kyhle has worked with a number of prestigious opera directors, including Joachim Herz, Göran Järvefelt, Götz Friedrich, Michael Hampe, Hans-Peter Lehmann and John Cox. Margaretha Dalhamn/First Maid Margaretha Dalhman trained at both the University College of Opera and the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Stockholm, where she also studied Per Sörberg’s clown techniques. She made her debut at Ystad Opera in 1982 and then worked on most of Sweden’s opera and theatre stages, including the Royal Opera, Folkoperan, N orrlandsOperan, Stora Teatern, Wermland Opera, Riksteatern and Drottningholm Palace Theatre. Roles include Ulrica in A Masked Ball, Filipjevna in Eugen Onegin, La principessa in Sister Angelica, Erda and Flosshilde in The Rhine Gold. At NorrlandsOperan she has previously appeared in Dancer in the Dark and Peter Grimes. She has also participated in several musicals and put on her own performances for national theatre associations. In 2012 she made her debut as an opera clown with OperaRepubliken in the group’s production of Tosca. Last year she toured with the opera clown concert Leve alla galningar! (Long Live all the Lunatics!) for Scenkonstbolaget. Agneta Lundgren/Second Maid & Trainbearer Agneta Lundgren trained at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen and the University College of Opera in Stockholm. She made her debut as Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Così fan tutte at the Royal Opera in 1981. Since then she has sung roles such as the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Pamina and First Lady in The Magic Flute, Berta in The Barber of Seville, Desdemona in Otello, Mimi and Musetta in La Bohème, Tosca and Madame Butterfly, Orpheus in the Underworld, Marie in Wozzeck and Larina in Eugen Onegin. Agneta Lundgren has also appeared at Drottningholm Palace Theatre. In spring 2014 she performed at NorrlandsOperan in the role of Madame Larina in Eugen Onegin. Katarina Leoson/Third maid Katarina Leoson graduated from Stockholm’s University College of Opera in 1998 and made her debut at the Royal Opera in Stockholm in 1996, as the Third Lady in The Magic Flute. Since 2001 she has been a member of the soloist ensemble at the Royal Opera, where she has appeared in roles such as Suzuki in Madame Butterfly, Maddalena in Rigoletto and Olga in Eugen Onegin – a role that she played most recently at NorrlandsOperan in spring 2014. Roles during recent seasons have included Carmen in a new production directed by Vincent Boussard, Pauline in The Queen of Spades, Fricka in The Valkyrie and Ulrica in A Masked Ball. Katarina has also sung at Finland’s National Opera and in spring 2014 she made a guest performance at Oper Frankfurt in the role of Lucia Vingradito in Rossini’s The Thieving Magpie. Katarina Leoson has also made guest appearances at the Royal Danish Theatre, Drottningholm Palace Theatre and the Brooklyn Academy of Music, on tour with Folkoperan. Katarina also sings on the concert stage. Sara Olsson/Fourth Maid Sara Olsson trained at the Royal College of Music and the University College of Opera in Stockholm. She debuted at the Royal Opera in 1994 in the lead role in Puccini’s Madame Butterfly and has since become an employee of Operan. Her roles have included the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro, Pamina in The Magic Flute, Cio-Cio San in Madame Butterfly, Mimi in La Bohème, Desdemona in Otello, Gutrune in Twilight of the Gods, Marie in Wozzeck, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus and Micaela in Carmen. Sara Olsson has also sung many newly-written works both on the opera stage and in concert settings, for example Franke-Blom’s opera H.P. Sara has also sung at Vadstena Academy and Drottningholm Palace Theatre a number of times. Karin Andersson/Fifth Maid & Confidante Karin Andersson trained at the School of Music in Piteå and the University College of Opera in Stockholm. She has sung solo parts with orchestras and in opera houses, including Sveriges Radio’s Symphony Orchestra, Nice Opera House, the Royal Opera and Västerås Sinfonietta. She has also appeared in opera roles at the Royal Opera in Stockholm, Drottningholm Palace Theatre and at NorrlandsOperan. Karin Andersson was also seen in one of the lead roles in the opera film Hotel Opera on SVT. Karin has been the recipient of several scholarships, including the Christina Nilsson scholarship in 2011. Karin is a devoted Lied, romance and oratory singer. In 2012 she made her debut as an opera singer in N orrlandsOperan’s production of Carmen, in which she sang the role of Frasquita. Anneli Lindfors / Overseer Anneli Lindfors, soprano, began her training at the Ingesund School of Music and then continued on to Stockholm Operastudio and the University College of Opera in Stockholm, where she graduated in spring 2010. During her studies she played roles such as Marie in Wozzeck, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni and the lead in Tosca. Anneli made her professional debut as Sieglinde in The Valkyrie at Wermland Opera in 2011. Her international debut came with the lead in Janácek’s Jenufa at Theater Magdeburg the same year, where she also sang Agathe in Der Freischütz.In summer 2013 she sang Freia in The Rhine Gold in Dalhalla, to great acclaim. Niklas Björling Rygert / A Young Servant Niklas Björling Rygert’s musical path began with Adolf Fredrik’s Music School. He trained at NBV Teaterverkstad, Operastudio 67 and the University College of Opera in Stockholm. As a child he was frequently engaged as an actor in productions such as Pippi Longstocking and Snow White at Folkan, but also for his voice in various films, for radio and TV. His opera debut took place in 1994 at Bergslagsoperan, as Spinkel in The Merry Wives of Windsor. Niklas is permanently linked to the Royal Opera in Stockholm since 1999, but has also sung several roles at Folkoperan, Confidencen and Drottningholm. He has also made guest appearances at the Madrid Opera, Frankfurt Opera and the Semper Opera House in Dresden. In 2013 he performed in Parsifal and Peter Grimes. Lennart Forsén / Tutor & An Old Servant Lennart Forsén trained at the Royal College of Music and the University College of Opera in Stockholm. He made his debut as the Archbishop in Tchaikovsky’s The Maid of Orleans at the Royal Opera in 1986. He has since sung a number of roles there, including: Marke in Tristan and Isolde, Sarastro in The Magic Flute, Sparafucile in Rigoletto, Trulove in The Rake’s Progress. He has also been engaged by Oper Leipzig, Deutsche Oper am Rhein and made guest appearances at the National Opera in Helsinki, GöteborgsOperan, Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels and Oscarsteatern. EXTRA IN ELEKTRA – A M << Susanne Lidgren, head of costume at NorrlandsOperan, helps extra Tage Nilsson with the costume he will be wearing when he brings the giant structure of Chrysothemis to life. Photo: Viyan Ateaa Enormous steel giants will move across the stage area in Elektra. But they don’t move by themselves. The steel structures are controlled and brought to life by some forty extras – some of them hanging uncomfortably at a height of several metres. Dressed in nude costumes. “THIS IS A CHANCE YOU ONLY GET ONCE IN A LIFETIME!” – IF YOU MOVE an arm of this size it’s obvious if it’s going in the wrong direction, comments Tage Nilsson, extra with special responsibility for the giant Chrysothemis. extras will hang on the giants representing E lektra’s mother Clytaimnestra and her lover Aigistos. – It immediately struck me that this is a chance you only get once in a lifetime! says Tage Nilsson. The job of finding extras has been going on throughout the winter months and industrious preparations are now underway in the run up to opening night at Umestan on August 14. The extras know they have a demanding and enjoyable task ahead of them. They learn the choreography during the weeks prior to opening night, when the artistic team from Barcelona has arrived. NORDGLÖD THE HORSE It’s not just people and giants who will be inhabiting the stage area during Elektra. Nordglöd the horse will also be playing a key role in the performance. – Noise, music, water, fire – there are plenty of elements that can make a horse nervous. Our inquiries led us to a horse and rider that we feel happy with. Nordglöd and Terese Nilsen will be working step by step to familiarise themselves with both the venue and the situation, says Britta Amft. IN GOOD SHAPE – The challenge for the extras is to carry out choreographed movements at a height of six metres. Some are in uncomfortable positions, which is why we’ve explicitly sought out people who are physically fit, explains producer Britta Amft at NorrlandsOperan. ONCE IN A LIFETIME Eight people have the task of moving the giants Elektra and her sister Chrysothemis forwards and backwards across the stage area, and moving their arms at the right pace. Dressed in nude costumes, 32 TAGE NILSSON, EXTRA Age: 61 Lives: in Umeå Employment: Union representative, retiring soon Interests: folk dancing, Lindy Hop, ballroom dancing and theatre Stage experience: Has performed in amateur theatre productions in Robertsfors and at Grotteatern, was involved in NorrlandsOperan’s Fiddler on the Roof in 1992, has been dancing and performing folk dances from the age of 20. MAMMOTH UNDERTAKING Props designer Emelie Eriksson in conversation with the vulture, played by Anette Bergström << Photo: Viyan Ateaa A BIG THANK-YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT SKOR Elektrasupé PÅ MESSEN 3-rätters supé på anrika Officersmessen innan föreställningen av Elektra? Bord kan bokas (sittning kl.18:00) via Rex Bar & Grill för er som redan köpt biljett. Ange ”Elektrasupé” vid bokning. Tel: 090-70 60 50 alt via mail: rex@rexbar.com 3- RÄTTERS SUPÉ 375: 500:- inkl. dryckespaket. (Utvalda viner, förrätt och varmrätt.) Se menyn: rexbar.com/ officersmessen/elektrasupe I anslutning till föreställningen vid ”scenområdet” har vi ett enklare bartält med öl, vin, läsk, vatten, kaffe, snacks och ett fast-food alternativ. REX OFFICERSMESS Vinn biljetter till Elektra! Livet vore trist utan kultur. Så tack alla som skapar musik, teater, konst, litteratur, dans och annat som färglägger våra tankar. Du som är hyresgäst hos Bostaden kan vinna biljetter till Elektra! Läs mer om utlottningen på vår webb: www.bostaden.umea.se Länge leve kulturen! Ta med VK till stranden VK DIGITAL hela sommaren. T 3 kronor* fö rsta månaden I sommar kan du läsa din tidning när du vill och var du än är. Njut av skön läsning på stranden, i hängmattan eller i båten. Med VK Digitalt får du e-tidningen måndag till lördag och alla nyheter på vk.se med VK+. 3 kronor* första månaden. Beställ på vk.se/valfrihet *Gäller juli–augusti 2014. Ord. pris 179 kr/månad. BERÄTTARNÄT SVERIGE: FEST – FEDERATION OF EUROPEAN STORYTELLERS | BILDMUSEET: ÅTTA SAMISKA KONSTNÄRER, LEONOR FINI | BILL OLSSON: BILL 365 | BÅTMUSEETS VÄNNER: KONSTEN SEGLAR IN II | CROSSING BOARDERS: CROSSING BOARDERS CAMP | DOCKTEATER MÅNSTJÄRNAN: MONSTER-KONSTER | EYP/EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIA MENT: INTERNATIONELLT UNGDOMSFORUM | FINSKA KLUBBEN: TEMADAGAR FÖR SVERIGEFINSKA KVINNOR I UMEÅ | FOLKETS BIO: MOVE FILMFESTIVAL | FOLKRÖRELSEARKIVET: UMEÅ – THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF HARDCORE 1989–2000 | FOLKUNIVERSITETET/BALETTAKADEMIEN: PLUPP | FORSKNINGSNÄTVERKET TANTFORSK UMU: TANTFLICKANS OCH FLICKTANTENS DAG | FÖRENINGEN FESTIVAL 2014: U X U FESTIVAL | FÖRENINGEN FURAN BULLMARK: FURANS KULTURFESTIVAL | FÖRENINGEN HIJVEN: DELLIE MAA – SÁPMI INDIGENOUS FILM & ART FESTIVAL, 8 ÅRSTIDER 8 FILMER | FÖRENINGEN JAZZ I UMEÅ: UMEÅ JAZZSTUDIO PLUS | FÖRENINGEN KAMMARMUSIK NU: INTERDISCIPLINÄRT RESIDENS UNDER MADE | FÖRENINGEN LITTFEST: LITTFEST | FÖRENINGEN SVENSK FORM VÄSTERBOTTEN: TOKYO STYLE UMEÅ 2014 | FÖRENINGEN TVÅPUNKTNOLL: BIO I PARKEN | FÖRENINGEN UMEÅ UNGA FOLKMUSIKER: FOLKSKANDIA – FOLKMUSIKEUROPA TILL UMEÅ | FÖRENINGEN VERKET: VERKET/NY VÅG 2014 | GUNILLA SAMBERG: CONVOY | HOLMSUND-OBBOLA KULTURFÖRENING: KULTUR I SKÄRGÅRDEN | HÄLJE GÅRD: OPERA I FÅRHUSET | INTERCULT PRODUCTIONS: CORNERS | IRANSKA FÖRENINGEN: ELDFESTEN | KOMPANI NOMAD: MAN MUST DANCE | KONCENTRAT EKONOMISK FÖRENING KIRUNA: MARKANVÄNDNING | KONSTFRÄMJANDET VÄSTERBOTTEN: BACK IN BABY'S ARMS | KRUMELUR FÖRENINGEN FÖR UNGA ORD I NORR: SNÖBOLLEN – ÅRETS SVENSKA BILDERBOK | KULTUR FÖR SENIORER | KULTUR I SKOLAN | KULTURFÖRENINGEN KOPIA/ KLUNGAN: KLUNGANS LJUDLANDSKAP | KULTURVERKET: FAIR GROUND, FAIR CITY, FAIR OPERA, FAIR GAME | LARS A PERSSON: THE NORDIC WATER COLOR FESTIVAL | MAJLIS SKALTJE: JUOIGAN – DOKUMENTÄRFILM OM JOJK | MARIEHEMS SK: UMEÅ FOTBOLLSFESTIVAL | MATKULTUR UMEÅ IDEELL FÖRENING: UMEÅ SMAKFESTIVAL | MEDIACENTER VÄSTERBOTTENS LÄN: DET VAR EN GÅNG I VÄSTERBOTTEN | NOMO DACO: STADEN NORRLANDSOPERAN: ELEKTRA, JAZZFESTIVALEN, MADE-FESTIVALEN, SAMI CHINESE DANCE COMPANY, SPRING FORWARD FESTIVAL, 12 POINTS FESTIVAL, 8 ÅRSTIDSKONSERTER POETRY SLAM SVERIGE: SM I POETRY SLAM | PRO VÄSTERBOTTEN: SENIORMÄSSA | PROFILTEATERN: HORROR AND ART, URSÄKTA SKULLE NI KUNNA SVÄLTA LITE TYSTARE, VI FÖRSÖKER FAKTISKT SKAPA LITE EKONOMISK TILLVÄXT HÄR BORTA! | QUEERFÖRVALTNINGEN: UMEÅ PRIDE 2013, 2014 Å RESTEN AV ÅRET | RIKSTEATERN I VÄSTERBOTTEN: LÄNK – AMATÖRTEATERFESTIVAL I SAMVERKAN | SAMERNAS UTBILDNINGSCENTRUM: DET SAMISKA ARVET | SAMESLÖJDSTIFTELSEN: MADE IN SÁPMI | SAMINUORRA: QUEERING SÁPMI UMEÅ2014 | SIMKA: BALTIC SEA – FLOATING TRUNKS | SKUGGTEATERN: SHAKESPEARE I PARK'N, THE ACT THAT RESULTS IN SOMETHING COMING TO BE | SSR: DET SAMISKA SAMHÄLLET I HISTORIA OCH NUTID – TEORI OCH PRAKTIK I MÖTE | STUDIEFRÄMJANDET: ANONYM BUT CREATIVE, MOLNSKUGGA, AVALANCHE | SWEDISH CLEMENTI SOCIETY: BEETHOVEN INSPIRES | SVENSK SOCIALPOLITISK FÖRENING: VERANDAN | SVENSKA INSTITUTET I PARIS: 66NORD – L'ATTITUDE SUÉDOISE | SVENSKA KYRKAN: FYREN | SÅNGKRAFT: A CHORAL MIDSUMMER LIGHT'S DREAM – UMEÅ INTERNATIONELLA KÖRFESTIVAL | TANTTEATERN: DET ÄR ALDRIG FÖR SENT FÖR BALETTEN | TEATERCENTRUM: EUROPEAN OFF MEETING KULTURCENTRUM BARN OCH UNGA: TEATERKALAS | TEXTILMEJERIET: STADEN | UMELAN: FROSTBYTE | UMEÅ FOLKMUSIKFÖRENING: FOLK- OCH VÄRLDSMUSIKGALAN | UMEÅ GEOCACHING COMMUNITY (UGC): UMEÅ GEOCACHING CULTURE EVENT 2014 | UMEÅ KAMMARMUSIKFÖRENING: KAMMARMUSIKFESTIVAL | UMEÅ KOMMUN, HAGASKOLAN: TVÅ SKOLFORMER TILLSAMMANS I GREASE | UMEÅ KOMMUNS FOLKBIBLIOTEK: GIVE ME FIVE | UMEÅ KULTURFÖRENING HUMLAN: UMEÅ OPEN GRAND SLAM OCH POPUP | UMEÅ MUSIKOLA: EL SISTEMA OCH MUSIK FRÅN STUNDER DÅ LIVET VAR SOM ALLRA BÄST | UMEÅ SAMEFÖRENING: SAMISK VECKA, TRÁHPPIE, RUSSUOH VUÖLIEB! VÄCK UPP JOJKEN, VIDDERNA INOM MIG – ETT SAMISKT ORATORIUM AV SVANTE HENRYSON | UMEÅ SKAPARPRIS: UMEÅ SKAPARPRIS | UMEÅ TEATERFÖRENING: NYCIRKUSFESTIVAL, VÄRLDSPREMIÄR VI ÄR UMEÅ2014 Massor av projekt genomförs med finansiering av Umeå – Europas kulturhuvudstad 2014. Hitta allt som händer på umea2014.se. Missa inte de tre kommande årstidsinvigningarna: Tjakttjagiessie/Höstsommar – Skördandets årstid, 30 augusti, Broparken (i samarbete med Nycirkusfestivalen) Tjakttja/Höst – Drivkraftens årstid, 10 oktober (i samarbete med det nya "Kulturkvarteret" vid Vasaqatan) Tjakttjadálvvie/Höstvinter – Vandrandets årstid, preliminärt 22 november (i samarbete med inviqninqen av Väven) WORKS CULLBERGBALETTEN | UMEÅC AB: K-UNG | UMU: VOICES OF UMEÅ | VERKLIGHETEN: SURVIVAL KIT FESTIVAL | VISANS VÄNNER I UMEÅ/VISFESTIVAL HOLMÖN: JUBILEUMSKONSERT | VODA: VI OCH DOM ANDRA | VÄSTERBOTTENS LÄNS HEMSLÖJDSFÖRENING: NEXT LEVEL CRAFT – SLOYDIFY SOCIETY, VÅGA VÄVA | VÄSTERBOTTENS MUSEUM: ROCK ART IN SÁPMI, SJDC/UMEÅ PHOTO2014 | VÄSTERBOTTENSTEATERN: NORRLÄNDSK PASSION | ÖGONBLICKSTEATERN: WITH MY EYES ONLY, FESTIVAL NORMAL UNLIMITED, POJKEN, FLICKAN OCH MUREN | LISA LESTANDER: VÄSTERBOTTENS VISOR | UMEÅ FRITID UNGA: 2 DAYS IN UMEÅ | VICTOR HILLEBJÖRK: ”ATT CROWDFUNDA EN FESTIVAL” | JONAS LIDSTRÖM ISEGRIM: SERIE -ANTOLOGI 2014 | ERSBODA SLÖJDFÖRENING: KULTURLÖPARE | NORRLANDSOPERAN: MUSIC 4 PEOPLE | LARS ÖBERG: VI OCH DOM – INTA RUKA | SIMON GRIND: GRIND GALLERI; BRITTVINTER | KF KRASCH: DIGITALA SNÖÄNGLAR | EMMALO LUNDSTRÖM: TAG PLATS 2012 | UMEMETAL: FIKADÖDS | SENSUS STUDIEFÖRBUND: SOM JAG MINNS DET – EN BERÄTTARFÖRESTÄLLNING OM JESUS SISTA VECKA | PETER MOLLWING: GÅRDAGENS MUSIK | TANTTEATERN: TANTTEATER | BENNY KARLSSON: GIRL POWER KULTURTEVE 2014 | UMEÅ UNGA FOLKMUSIKER: FOLKSKANDIA 2012 | SVENSKA VOLLEYFÖRENINGEN: SWEDISH BEACH TOUR 2014 | HIJVEN: ÅTTA ÅRSTIDER, ÅTTA FILMER | TEATERCENTRUM NORR: PLANERING AV EUROPEAN OFF MEETING I UMEÅ 2014 | KONSULTFIRMA SARA RUDÄLV: KONSTEN GÅR PÅ RÄLS | KREATOR: CO-WORKING UMEÅ | KF VERKET: SAMTAL OCH FILMVISNING OM KVINNORS ROLL I PUNKSCENEN | UMEÅ FOLKMUSIKFÖRENING: FOLKMUSIKEUROPA | KATARINA PIRAK SIKKU: JAG VILL BITA HUVUDET AV SKAMMEN | HÖRNEFORS KULTURFÖRENING: NORRBYSKÄR – ETT MÄRKLIGT SAMHÄLLES FRAMVÄXT OCH HISTORIA | UMEBYGDENS NHR: TOLV | EMILIA HANSSON: CULTURE TRAD | JOHAN NYBERG: LEKSAM TVÅPUNKTNOLL: BIO I BROPARKEN | FILIP JONSSON/HAMNMAGASINET: STAND UP AND SCREAM | UMEÅ SKAPARPRIS IDEELLA FÖRENING: UMEÅ SKAPARPRIS | HOLMSUNDOBBOLA KULTURFÖRENING: KULTUR I SKÄRGÅRDEN | KULTURSTORM: BARNS RÖSTER OM EUROPA | GRISBACKAKYRKAN: BLÅ FESTIVAL | KONCENTRAT KONSTCENTRUM I KIRUNA: MARKANVÄNDNING | UMEÅ KAMMARMUSIKFÖRENING: MUSIK MINGEL MAT | UNITED AFGHANSK FÖRENING: AFGHANISTAN GENOM VÅRA ÖGON | ALTE SCHWEDEN: THE SINGING REVOLUTION AND THEN WHAT? | FEMINISTISKT FORUM: FEMINISTISKT FORUM UMEÅ | UMEÅ DANSSKOLA: DEN FJÄRDE LAGEN – EN DANSFÖRESTÄLLNING | SÅHKIE: RUSSUOH VUÖLIEB! / VÄCK UPP JOJKEN! | IRANSKA FÖRENINGEN: ELDFESTEN 2014 | MIDDAGSBJUDNINGEN: MIDDAGSBJUDNINGEN; MANIFEST, HOPP, UTOPI | QUEERFÖRVALTNINGEN: TEATER SMUTS | IOGT NTO BUDBÄRARNA: KULTURUTBYTE UMEÅ – JURBARKAS BACKEN GOSPEL: GOSPELKÖR OCH STORBAND I UMEÅ 2013 OCH 2014 TANGO NORTEÑO: MIDNIGHT LIGHT TANGO FESTIVAL | OBBOLA ÄR OCKSÅ UMEÅ KOMMUN: KULTURENS BILDNINGSVERKSAMHET NORR | REBECKA ADELHULT FEKLISTOFF: FÖRFLYTTNINGAR | SVENSK FORM VÄSTERBOTTEN: PECHAKUCHA UMEÅ RIGA | WIKIMEDIA SVERIGE: UMEPEDIA | GRÖNA HUSET: SWEET SUSTAINABILITY | SVENSKA KYRKAN I UMEÅ: SUOMALAINEN MESSU | MAMA AFRICA: KVINNOR SÅ IN NORDEN | SPAS RYSK KULTURFÖRENING: RYSK TEMAVECKA | ELIN BOMAN: HEMSÖKTA UMEÅ | KOMPANI NOMAD: MINIDANSRESIDENS I VILHELMINA | UMEÅ STADS TRÄDGÅRDSSÄLLSKAP: HORTIKULTUR I VÄXTERBOTTEN | EVELINA SJÖSTRÖM: PROJEKT TRAILER/TRAILER GALLERY | UMEÅ BLUESFÖRENING: LADY SINGS THE BLUES | UGD – UMEÅ FIGHTINGSPELSFÖRENING: NORDIC SHOWDOWN 2014/UMEÅ FIGHT CAPITAL 2014 | PAIN: PERFORMANCE I GLASHUSET | TEATER MYCEL: VINTAGE WEEKEND OCH VAUDEVILLE 2014 | HOLMÖ SOMMARTEATER: TEATERUTBYTE HOLMÖN – REPLOT | STUDIE FÖRBUNDET VUXENSKOLAN: KULTURELLT UTBYTE SVERIGE–EL SALVADOR | SARA LIDMAN-SÄLLSKAPET: SARA LIDMAN – EN RÖST FRÅN DET NORDLIGA RUMMET UT I VÄRLDEN | HAMPUS BERGENHEIM: DIFFERENT BUT STILL THE SAME | PARADISE CITY KULTUR: KLUBB UNPLUGGED MUFIDA KULTURELLA FÖRENING: INTERNATIONELL MODEVISNING | ELDFESTIVAL PÅ KULTURMEJERIET: FORMA UMEÅ KERAMIKFÖRENING | BOKCAFÉ PILGATAN: NORDISKT FÖRFATTARSAMARBETE | MALIN TIVENIUS: WATERSCAPE/ANTIATLAS | BIRGIT LINDBERG: THE MIDNIGHT SUN | UMEÅ MUSIKKLASSER: JUBILEUMSKONSERT | GAIAPROJEKTET: FEMCON2 | STICKFÖRENINGEN STICKARR: STICKLÄGER STICK2014 | SÄVAR SKOLA: STORNILA | KF KRETSEN – NERDCON: NERDCON | OBBOLA FK: KULTURMÖTEN I SKÄRGÅRDEN 2014 | ELISABETH HOLM: TVÅ KULTURER VID SAMMA VATTEN FÖRENAS I KÖRSAMARBETE MELLAN UMEÅ OCH RIGA | 090 HARDCORE: 090-HARDCOREFEST 2014 | ROSALI GRANKULL: RARAS | HÖRNEFORS MANSKÖR: MANSKÖRER I SAMKLANG | UMEÅ ROLLER DERBY: RADICAL ROOKIE REBELLION | BJÖRNOLA LIND: ONE WATER MANY RIVERS | GALLERI MASKINEN: MASKINEN ART BOAT | MIO LIDGREN/HUMLAN: ANTIMOBBNINGSFESTIVAL | VIKTOR NEUMANN: EXHIBITION: CULTURAL CAPITAL | BILDA: "ETT LJUS I MÖRKRET" | NINA BÄCKSTRÖM: CYKELTUREN! SKARUME? | VADIM ALEXEYEV: HOUSE IN UMEÅ | UMEÅ GUIDEFÖRENING: LÄR KÄNNA DIN STAD | HELENA COT CULTURAL AGENT: WALLPEOPLE UMEÅ | IFK UMEÅ/VILDMANNAVALLEN: GRAFFITIMÅLA EN GAMMAL TRÄLÄKTARE PÅ EN NYGAMMAL FOTBOLLSARENA | SARA SJÖSTRÖM: BREVBÄRARNA | FÖRENINGEN KULTURSTORM: NO! VOICE | MED FLERA Huvudpartner Partners Motorcentralen, VK, Ultra, Swedbank, Umeå Airport, Företagarna Västerbotten Med stöd av Umeå genomför kulturhuvudstadsåret tillsammans med de fyra nordligaste svenska länen och Sápmi som sträcker sig genom delar av Norge, Sverige, Finland och Ryssland. ART In the autumn our art exhibition space Vita Kuben will be presenting three major projects: Survival Kit, a collaboration between artists in Riga and Umeå, offering some 30 different art experiences from many parts of the world. Glasljud, the school kids in Vännäs get to work with glass artist Camilla Caster. Finally, Björnola Lind and Torkel Lundberg pay homage to the world’s mother rivers in the installation One water – many rivers. BLANCHE & MARIE OPERA On August 29, Umeå Teaterförening will be opening its doors for the New Circus Festival. Over ten days, Umeå will be taken over by exciting new circus troupes and street artists from all four corners of the world. Photo: Alban van Wassenhove MARMALAD DANCE WAVES, VIDEO & JOYFUL REUNIONS After the summer we’ll be getting going again with Marmelad, a sweet piece by Claire Parsons for our youngest viewers. In Joseph & MM we meet two dance creators, Alessandro Sciarroni and Ludvig Daae, who both move between the digital and the physical space with the aid of a film camera. In October we’ll be showing two performances in collaboration with Umeå Teaterförening: Virpi Pahkinen does her majestic Scarabé and then we are reunited with Peter Jasko and Anton Lachky from the popular Les SlovaKs, on this occasion each performing in their own work, Solo 2009 & Mind a Gap. In November it’s time for the premiere of Waves, where Peter von Poehl’s newly-written music interpreted by N orrlandsOperan Symphony Orchestra UMEÅ JAZZ FESTIVAL N ORRLANDSOPERAN’S TOP TIPS! NOVEL BY PO ENQUIST BECOMES OPERA Blanche & Marie is based on a novel by PO Enquist, a colourful portrait of the Nobel Laureate Marie C urie and Blanche Wittman, the woman who became the face of the female condition hysteria. Mats Larsson Gothe is the composer, Maria Sundqvist wrote the libretto and Elisabet L jungar is the director. World premiere October 10. WAVES EUROPE’S TOP JAZZ IN UMEÅ Umeå Jazz Festival continues to attract the top international jazz and improvisation musicians. And naturally there is a particular focus on artists from Europe during this special year. The festival takes place October 21–26. Photo: Almah Youri Lenquette joins forces with choreography by Héla Fattoumi & Eric Lamoureux (Manta, Masculines). Following that Ingrid Olterman takes up several positions in the public space with Movements’ Corner. Skånes Dansteater will be making a guest performance with us in December with ...AND..., choreography by Björn Säfsten and Philippe Blanchard. MUSIC FANTASTIC MUSICAL VISITS In August we’ll be visited by Sveriges Radio’s Symphony Orchestra, Radiokören, Erik Westberg’s Vocal Ensemble and soloists when they perform Mahler’s Second Symphony at Idunteatern, under the direction of Daniel Harding. In September we will have guest performances from Norr botten’s Chamber Orchestra, conductor Okko Kamu, and soprano Maria Fontosh, whom we last saw in Eugen Onegin. EXCITING SEASONAL CONCERTS NorrlandsOperan Symphony Orchestra will be performing a series of exciting seasonal concerts as part of European Capital of Culture Year. August sees the premiere of a work by Graham Fitkin and there’ll be more new music by Berndt Egerblad and Mats Gustafsson in connection with Umeå Jazz Festival. In November, conductor and pianist Howard S helley is back to interpret Beethoven. The final performance of the year will be a clarinet concerto by our Composer in residence Katarina Leyman, featuring soloist Stefan Harg. We sign off this celebratory year with Musical Magic, in which principal conductor Rumon Gamba has put together a tremendous programme. CHILDISH IMPROVISATION In September it’s time for splash, song and rhythm in Zingazing by Ensemble Yria, for 1–5 year olds. Alongside the jazz festival, the slightly older children (5–9 years) are being invited along on C atapluf’s Musical Journey together with improvisation musician Adriano Adewale. RIVER STORIES 2014 is being highlighted as a special year beyond Umeå as well. Throughout the European Capital of Culture Year, River Stories is working with a series of projects, performances and events that are touring Västerbotten and Finland. And there’s more! For the latest news, visit www.norrlandsoperan.se Photo: Jose Figueroa Image: NorrlandsOperan AUTUMN 2014 AT NORRLANDSOPERAN Love, passion and the devouring power of radium radiation . The opera Blanche & Marie is based on PO Enquist’s novel The Story of Blanche and Marie. The plot centres on two-time Nobel Laureate Marie Curie and Blanche Wittman, her friend and assistant. World Premiere at NorrlandsOperan, October 10, 2014. August 14.8 OPERA/ELEKTRA 14.10 OPERA/BLANCHE & MARIE 16.8 OPERA/ ELEKTRA 16.10 OPERA/BLANCHE & MARIE 19.8 OPERA/ ELEKTRA 17.10 DANCE/SOLO 2009 & MIND A GAP** 21.8 OPERA/ELEKTRA 18.10 OPERA/BLANCHE & MARIE 23.8 OPERA/ ELEKTRA 22.10 – 26.10 FESTIVAL/UMEÅ JAZZ FESTIVAL 25.8 CONCERT/MAHLER SYMPHONY NO.2 25.10 CONCERT/CATAPLUF’S MUSICAL JOURNEY Richard Strauss & La Fura Dels Baus – PREMIERE Richard Strauss & La Fura Dels Baus Richard Strauss & La Fura Dels Baus Richard Strauss & La Fura Dels Baus Richard Strauss & La Fura Dels Baus Sveriges Radio’s Symphony Orchestra, Radiokören, Erik Westberg’s Vocal Ensemble 28.8 CONCERT/FITKIN MEETS NOSO NorrlandsOperan Symphony Orchestra September 4.9–6.9 NEW CIRCUS/KNEE DEEP New Circus Festival, Umeå Teaterförening 6.9 DANCE/MARMELAD Claire Parsons , for kids 2–6 years 10.9 DANCE/JOSEPH & MM * Alessandro Sciarroni & Ludvig Daae 11.9 CONCERT/ SHELLEY INTERPRETS BEETHOVEN Mats Larsson Gothe & Maria Sundqvist Mats Larsson Gothe & Maria Sundqvist Peter Jasko & Anton Lachky Mats Larsson Gothe & Maria Sundqvist www.umeajazzfestival.se Adriano Adewale, for kids 5–9 years 23.10 CONCERT/EGERBLADH & GUSTAFSSON NorrlandsOperan Symphony Orchestra 22.10 OPERA/BLANCHE & MARIE Mats Larsson Gothe & Maria Sundqvist 25.10 OPERA/BLANCHE & MARIE Mats Larsson Gothe & Maria Sundqvist November 21.11 – 22.11 DANCE/ WAVES Fattoumi, Lamoureux & Peter von Poehl – WORLD PREMIERE 21.11 NorrlandsOperan Symphony Orchestra 27.11 CONCERT/LEYMANS CLARINET CONCERTO orrlandsOperan Symphony Orchestra N Music by Leyman, Shostakovich & Pettersson orrlandsOperan Symphony Orchestra N Music by Clementi, Schnelzer, Beethoven & Mendelssohn 29.11–30.11 DANCE/MOVEMENTS’ CORNER 14.9 CONCERT/ ZIGGAZING December Ensemble Yria, for kids 1–5 years 17.9 CONCERT/ SOIRÉE FRANCAISE Norrbotten Chamber Orchestra with conductor Okko Kamu & soloist Maria Fontosh October 5.10 DANCE/SCARABÉ * ** Virpi Pahkinen 10.10 OPERA/BLANCHE & MARIE Ingrid Olterman 5.12–6.12 CONCERT/ MUSIK FRÅN STUNDER... Malin Jonsson, Daniel Lindström, Umeå Musikskola & NorrlandsOperan Symphony Orchestra 6.12 DANCE/…AND… Skånes Dansteater, Björn Säfsten & Philippe Blanchard. 11.12 CONCERT/MUSICAL MAGIC orrlandsOperan Symphony Orchestra N Music by Coates, Ravel, Tjajkovsky & Stravinsky Mats Larsson Gothe & Maria Sundqvist – WORLD PREMIERE *Presented by Dansnät Sverige **In cooperation with Umeå Teaterförening 12.10 OPERA/BLANCHE & MARIE Subject to any additions, typing errors and changes to the programme. Mats Larsson Gothe & Maria Sundqvist THERE’S ALWAYS MORE HAPPENING! FOR THE LATEST NEWS, VISIT WWW.NORRLANDSOPERAN.SE