Morfar, kom ut (Granddad, come out) is a comedy about love later in life and intergenerational honesty, or grown-up love depicted from a child's perspective. Morfar, kom ut is also about daring to follow your inner voice and about being honest both with yourself and with your grandchild. Actually, it is the daughter Gunilla who wants her father to tell her at all costs, that everything will be "correct". Neither Gunnar nor his granddaughter Greta have that need. The daughter creates a problem that doesn't really exist...
Music by Kristina Forsman, text by Ann-Sofie Bárány. With Alar Pintsaar (granddad Gunnar), Marie-Louise Granström (daughter Gunilla), Jessica Forsell (grandchild Greta) and Daniel Ohlmann (Gabor).
AVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER 9.
Short Stories IV
ADA
AVAILABLE UNTIL: DECEMBER 9
RUNNING TIME: 3 X 20 MINS
OPERA OF TOMORROW | SHORT STORIES IV - ADA + MORFAR KOM UT+ BAGATELLE
Welcome back to Operan’s development workshop, whereby Swedish composers and librettists are each being commissioned with composing an approx. 20-minute, one-act opera. Thanks to the Royal Swedish Opera’s resources, tomorrow’s opera composers are being given free rein to try out their ideas. The audience will get the opportunity to see succinct, original operas – in this instance by Christofer Elgh/Sigrid Herrault, Kristina Forsman/Ann-Sofie Bárány and Martin Virin
What makes opera contemporary? When Gustav III founded the Royal Swedish Opera 250 years ago, he made sure that the repertoire consisted of new operas and ballets. The opera has followed this original idea for almost two and a half centuries. During the jubilee year 2023, the Opera will premiere five new operas by Swedish composers, including the three short story operas under the title Short Stories IV. It is gratifying that we as a national scene can contribute in this way to letting "new blood" into the system. The chorus of the Royal Swedish Opera together with the Royal Swedish Orchestra forms the hub around which Short Stories revolves. Without their professionalism this workshop would never have been possible.
»She planted a seed for something that would change everything«
First out of these three operas is Ada:the story of the visionary mathematical genius Ada Lovelace, who became the world's first programmer, and her complicated relationship with her parents, the arch-Romantic poet Lord Byron and his more level headed wife. The opera is about the problem of being a creative woman in a patriarchy, and of women who have achieved great things by no means straight ways. Ada saw visions of another way of life. She had the power to sense something that did not yet exist. Ada leads us into a world we cannot yet comprehend.
Music by Christofer Elgh, text by Sigrid Herrault. With Anneli Jupiter (Ada), Kristina Hansson Unander (Lady Byron) and Håkan Ekenäs (Lord Byron) as well as members of the Royal Swedish Opera's chorus.
Below you can also experience the other two parts of Short Stories IV: Grandfather, come out and Bagatelle. Don't miss the in-depth conversations with the creators as well!
SHORT STORIES IV - THE DIFFERENT PART ARE AVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER 9.
GRANDAD, COME OUT
»We all have a responsibility to follow our dreams«
BAGATELLE
When reality surpasses the poem
Bagatelle (Trifle) depicts the chaotic aftermath of the 2020 US presidential election from the perspective of a female TV viewer and her 17 year old daughter, based on a true event.
The opera takes place in Lansing, Michigan, on the day of the Electoral College meeting on December 14, 2020, that is, after the actual election but before January 6 and the storming of the Capitol. A group of 16 Republicans then posed as electors, even though the real Democratic electors were already in place. The whole event is reflected through the two characters, the mother and the daughter, who watch the event on television.
Music and text text by Martin Virin. With Annica Nilsson (the mother), Lisa Thor (the daughter), Peter Achrén (policeman), Gustav Florin Ågren (the lawyer), Maria Matyazova Milder (republican party strategist) and members of the Royal Swedish Opera Chorus.
AVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER 9.
Premiere Talk Short Stories IV - ADA
The Royal Swedish Opera's dramaturge Katarina Aronsson meets the creators behind Short Stories IV/Ada: Christofer Elgh (composer) and Sigrid Herrault (librettist).
Recorded at the Royal Swedish Opera in June 2023.
Premiere Talk Short Stories IV - MORFAR KOM UT
The Royal Swedish Opera's dramaturge Katarina Aronsson meets the creators behind Short Stories IV/Morfar kom ut (Granddad, come out): Kristina Forsman (composer) and Ann-Sofie Bárány (librettist).
Recorded at the Royal Swedish Opera in June 2023.
Premiere Talk Short Stories IV - BAGATELLE
The Royal Swedish Opera's dramaturge Katarina Aronsson meets the creator behind Short Stories IV/Bagatelle: Martin Virin (composer & librettist).
Recorded at the Royal Swedish Opera in June 2023.