21 Sep NATTFOLKET NOMINATED FOR THE CRITICS’ AWARD

Bergen National Opera congratulates the artistic team behind Nattfolket on their prestigious nomination for the Norwegian Critics’ Association’s Music Critics’ Award.

Each year, the Norwegian Critics’ Association presents a Critics’ Award honouring outstanding artistic achievement, selected by the Norwegian community of critics.

REASONS FOR THE NOMINATION

Åsa Opedal writes in Periskop.no “It also has the unmistakable flavour of Western Norway, with a composer from Kvinnherad and a librettist from Bømlo. Nynorsk is allowed to shine, and the language is clear and natural, with a directness that belongs firmly to the present day. (…) Vaage describes opera as music drama and admits to borrowing from Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Bizet’s Carmen, well-known Norwegian children’s songs, pop music, and even his own catalogue of contemporary music. The composer’s childlike enthusiasm is exactly right for the project. Rather than toning down the artistic ambition to accommodate children, he believes you need to raise your game when creating for them, because they are both quicker and smarter than we adults are.”

Aksel Tollåli writes in the newspaper Aftenposten“Vaage’s music is surprisingly varied. The shifts in style are frequent, ranging from a flurry of birdsong to dense, crunching dissonances, via what can best be described as contemporary-music 1970s disco. (…) Sortland’s text is clear and direct, works well as a libretto, and contains a surprising amount of fart humour. (…) For the most part, I am thoroughly charmed. Vasylyna Kharchevka’s all-green set consists of staircases on either side of the stage, connected by a bridge. The orchestra is fully integrated into the set, with the musicians able to turn around when conductor Ingar Bergby changes position. This brings a lively dynamic to Erik Ulfsby’s direction.”

NATTFOLKET / THE NIGHT FOLK

Knut Vaage Music
Bjørn Sortland / Libretto

ARTISTIC TEAM
Ingar Bergby / Conductor
Erik Ulfsby / Director
Belinda Braza / Choreographer
Vasylyna Kharchevka / Set Designer
Ingrid Nylander / Costume Designer
Torkel Skjærven / Lighting Designer
Thorolf Thuestad / Sound Designer
Håkon Matti Skrede / Chorus Master
Ingeborg Ekeland / Children’s Choir Director
Lillian Bikset / Dramaturg

PARTICIPANTS
Maia Reppe / Noah
Eldrid Gorset / Ciril
Håvard Stensvold / Kjell
Siv Oda Hagerupsen / Gunn, Cyrewen
Ivi Karnezi / Dronning Bibbi Jeanette
Eirik del Barco Soleglad / Cabin Investor
Tormod Løvold / Cabin Investor
Jonas Fuglevik Urstad / Herold

Musicians from the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Edvard Grieg Vocal Ensemble
Singers from the Edvard Grieg Girls’ Choir
Singers from the Edvard Grieg Boys’ Choir

The world premiere took place on Saturday, 6 June 2026, at Cornerteateret in Bergen.
The opera will then travel to Trondheim Symphony Orchestra & Opera (October 2026) and the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet (January 2027).