Performers and creative team in productions by Babyopera:
Babyopera is led by Christina Lindgren with at unique team composed for each performance.
Christina Lindgren Artistic Director and CEO: Christina graduated from the Art Academy in Oslo and the Universität der Künste in Berlin. She has designed the costume and set design to more than 50 performances of theater, dance and contemporary musiktheatre/ opera.
Lindgren is interested in sound generating scenography and has also made several set designs where the performers make music by moving in the scenography. Primarily acoustic, but also electronically through the use of contact microphones.
Her interest for opera, Musiktheater and all kind of hybrid form of staged performances with contemporary music led to performances with music by Mauricio Kagel, Paul Hindemith, Darius Milhaud, Aribert Reimann and Per Nørgård and to collaboration with contemporary composers and musicians as Julian Skar, Maja Solveig Kjelstrup Ratkje, Erik Dæhlin, Lene Grenager (NO), Stefan Thorsson (SE), Atli Ingolfson (IS) and Toni Blomdahl (SE) NING (NO), Silje Aker Johnsen (NO) and Hubert Wild (DE).
Primarly she has worked with experimental theater such as The Theatre of Cruelty with director Lars Øyno and for art performance with artists Liv Kristin Holmberg/ Julian Blaue and Ludvig Uhlbors/ Hanna Sjøstrand. Christina Lindgren collaborates with Liv Kristin Holmberg on the multimedial art project Nattens Lys. www.nattenslys.no
She teaches, part-time, as Professor in Costume Design at Oslo National Academy of the Arts. Lindgren lead the artistic research project Costume Agency (2018 till 2021), supported by The Norwegian Artistic Research Program, Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHIO) and Norwegian Arts Council. Her co-main-researcher, Sodja Lotker and she were the convener of Critical Costume 2020 Conference and Exhibition. www.costumeagency.khio.no
Camilla Svingen Production Manager: Camilla is the leader of the Performative Productions Management Company Syv Mil AS. She has extensive experience in project management, producing, cultural-political work, theater and dance productions. She has previously worked as manager and program director of Mini Midi Maxi – International Theater Festival, and as the manager of Proscen (Producers Unit for Performing arts) where she developed a number of national projects such as seminars and producer programmes. In addition to her work at SYV MIL AS, she is the Economical Manager at Bergen Center for Electronic Arts. Camilla holds a national and international network within performing arts for children and young people, contemporary dance and theater, figure theater, residences and organizations. Education: Theater science (UIB), Producer Knowledge of Performing Arts and Technology (NTNU), Digital culture (UIB) and Literature (UIB) as well as different relevant courses along the way. https://www.syvmil.no/omoss?lang=en
Elisabeth Holmertz is a soprano. The repertoire of Swedish soprano Elisabeth Holmertz spans from medieval to contemporary via Baroque, folk song, experimental musical theatre, and the late Romantic era, but she mainly works with early and contemporary music.
Elisabeth studied at the Norwegian Academy of Music where her principal teacher was Professor Barbro Marklund-Petersône. She also studied with Professor Barbara Schlick at the Hochschule für Musik Köln, Germany, where she ended her studies with a Konzertexamen in 2004. Her opera debut was made in 2005, singing the title role in Ophelias: Death by Water Singing by Henrik Hellstenius. Since then she has lent her voice to many female characters (Dido, Hedda Gabler, Armide, et al).
Elisabeth has appeared as soloist with some of the most important ensembles and orchestras in Scandinavia, among them, Concerto Copenhagen, the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, the Oslo Simfonietta, Danish Chamber Orchestra and the Cikada Ensemble. She has worked with conductors such as Christian Eggen, Ingar Bergby, Tõnu Kaljuste, Jonathan Stockhammer and Andew Lawrence-King. Larger concertante work includes Pierrot Lunaire (Arnold Schönberg), Lonely Child (Claude Vivier), L’Abbé Agathon (Arvo Pärt), and Tre Voci (Arne Nordheim). She is also a sought after oratorio singer and has sung all the main church music in Aachen dome, the Nidaros cathedral and others.
Her open mind, musical diversity and flexible technique make her the perfect singer for all kinds of projects, as well as different musical styles. Stave Church Songs is a project that combines a mediaeval sequence with folk music, avante garde, jazz and impro, and toured Norwegian stave churches in 2009. She has played musical theatre together with ensemble Ning (NO) and Teater Cinnober (SE) in Maria Tryti Wennerød’s “Meir/Mera”. In 2013 she premiered “Desiring Machines”, an experimental opera about women- myths and icons by Erik Dæhlin.
Although she loves opera and orchestral work, she is a true chamber musician at heart. Her two main co-musicians are Swedish lute player Fredrik Bock and pianist Kenneth Karlsson. Together with Fredrik Bock (SE) she seeks to expand the sound of the classical soprano- and lute duo with their own arrangements. They have released two albums with lute songs on LAWO classics; on the second, “Sounds, sweet airs and the art of longing”, they have the wonderful company of flute player Poul Høxbro. Kenneth Karlsson is one of the most respected pianists in Norway and with him she sings the newest and coolest music of today. Most important is the music. http://www.elisabethholmertz.com/about/
Silje Aker Johnsen. Silje is a performer of Korall Koral – A Baby Opera, Orfeo´s Comfort – A Baby Opera and Amor´s Ease – A Baby Opera. Silje is educated at the Grieg Academy of Music in Bergen, Universität der Künste, Berlin, holds a master degree in classical singing from the Norwegian Academy of Music, Oslo, and a PhD from the Opera Academy at The Oslo National Academy of the Arts with the project “A search for an extended physical interpretation of contemporary vocal music and of opera”. She has during her studies and career had a strong focus on the contemporary music repertory in addition to the barock and classical vocal repertory. She works with different scenic expressions and performance settings.
She has interpreted roles as Io in The Io Passion by Harrison Birthwistle with Berliner Kammeroper in Konzerthaus Berlin and the female main part in A Gentle Spirit by John Tavener with the same company. Silje performed as a singer and performer at The National Theatre of Norway and has also worked as a dancer in the Polish Dance Theatre. She has been performing in the dance music pieces like Thousand Rooms, with choreography by Gunhild Bjørnsgaard and music by Georges Aperghis at the Coda International Dance Festival, Oslo and in festivals in France.
Silje has world premiered numerous vocal pieces and has guested festivals like Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Die Donaueschinger Musiktage, Ultima Contemporary Music Festival and Bergen International Festival. Silje was granted the Norwegian Government Grants for Young Artists in 2011/2012. http://www.siljeakerjohnsen.no
Elizabeth Svarstad is a choreographer, movement director, dancer and dance scholar. She graduated from the Norwegian Ballet Academy in 2000. She holds a Nordic Master of Arts in dance studies and an academic PhD in dance studies from The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). She has studied baroque dance in France, England and the US and is Norway’s foremost specialist in baroque dance and early dance. She is a sought-after artist, and has performed in and choreographed for dance performances, concerts, opera productions, TV productions and solo performances. She is a university lecturer in Baroque dance at The Norwegian Academy of Music, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, NTNU, and The University of Stavanger.
Svarstad is a freelance researcher in the field of dance history. She has published scientific articles in Ibsen Studies and with publishing companies such as Dreyer forlag, Verlag Frank & Timme and Routledge. She holds positions of trust as vice chair of The Nordic Forum for Dance Research (NOFOD) and is editorial member of The Nordic Journal of Dance. She has received grants from the Research Council of Norway, Arts Council Norway, Fund for Performing Artists in Norway, The City of Oslo, Government Grants for Artists and The Swedish Arts Grants Committee. In 2019 Svarstad was awarded the Parelius prize for deserving artists for her work with dance in the performing arts field. In 2020 she received a writer’s grant from the Norwegian Non-Fiction Writers and Translators’ Association. https://www.elizabethsvarstad.no
Tormod Lindgren has designed scenography for Dragon Zoo and is currently working on the scenography for Orfeo´s Comfort – A Baby Opera and Amor´s Ease – A Baby Opera. He is a award winning scenographer and director based in Norway. His work includes stage design, costumes,video, puppet design and directing. He has designed more than 80 productions all over the world, within theatre, dance, puppet, opera. He has a BA from Khio-Oslo and a master from Central Saint Martins-London/DAMU-Prague. He is the artistic director of the company Theater CORPUS. https://www.theatercorpus.com
Maja Solveig Kjelstrup Ratkje. Maja is the composer of Korall Koral – A Baby Opera, Up in the Mountains. She finished composition studies at the Norwegian State Academy of Music in Oslo in 2000. Her music is performed worldwide by performers such as Klangforum Wien, Oslo Sinfonietta, The Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Fretwork, TM+, Cikada and Vertavo string quartets, Quatuor Renoir, POING and many more. Portrait concerts with her music has been heard in Toronto and Vienna, she has been composer in residence at festivals like Other Minds, San Francisco, Nordland Music Festival, and the Avanti! Summer Festival (2011.) Ratkje has received awards such as the International Rostrum of Composers in Paris for composers below 30 years of age, the Norwegian Edvard prize (work of the year) twice, second prize at the Russolo Foundation, Distinction Award at Prix Ars Electronica, and in 2001 she was the first composer ever to receive the Norwegian Arne Nordheim prize.
She is a singer/voice user and electronics player, studio engineer, soloist and with groups such as SPUNK or Agrare. Other collaborations are with Jaap Blonk, Joëlle Léandre, Ikue Mori, Zeena Parkins, Stephen O’Malley, Lasse Marhaug, POING and others. Ratkje has performed her own music for films, dance, theatre, installations, and numerous other projects. She played a part in her own opera, based on the texts from the Nag Hammadi Library. In 2005 she performed the voice solo part of her first big work for orchestra, commissioned by Radio France. She has also been soloist with Klangforum Wien and Oslo Sinfonietta. Her scores are found at the Norwegian Music Information Centre and her records are released on Tzadik, Rune Grammofon, ECM, Kontrans, Asphodel, Important Records and others. www.ratkje.no
Eivind Buene is an composer, writer and Associate Professor in Composition at The Norwegian Academy of Music. https://www.eivindbuene.com
Heesun Kim: Heesun Kim is partner in the production of MAGO. She based in Seoul, Korea, is a founder & CEO of Babyart. She works as independent producer in performing arts, and also an arts business expert specializing in arts management. Heesun graduated Master’s degree in Culture, Policy and Management from City, University of London. She has years of diverted experiences in multiple cultures include the UK, China and Korea. She is interested in embrace and cultivate baby as an arts audience, and also interested in cultural regeneration. As a founder and CEO of Babyart company, she aims to deliver borderless arts experience to every babies & children in the world.
Hyun Kim: Hyun Kim is the choreographer of MAGO. He is a choreographer, dancer, performer from South Korea, based in New York City. He is an artistic director and choreographer of Art Group Obang. He specializes in contemporary movement, contact improvisation and theatre act. His movement is based on Korean traditional dance, which is strongly connected with breath control and flow of the energy. He is a choreographer and performer of various dance, film and musical productions in Asia and Europe.
YunKyung Bae: YunKyung is the scenographer of MAGO. She is currently is the managing director of Buzz Media, the content production company, and also the director of the Huasis Research Centre. She is interested in a participation, interaction and relationship between performer, audience and media, especially the behavior of young audience. The theme of Yunkyung’s doctoral dissertation is also the influence of the interactivity of the media-based interactive performance on the audience engagement, and it is targeted at the children’s performances.
Geon Kim: Geon Kim is a dancer born in MAGO. He is based in Seoul, South Korea. Specializing in contemporary dance and Korean traditional dance, Gun has performed in <The secret story of Nongae> from National Dance Company of Korea and <Notre Dame De Paris> both in Korean version and original version in Seoul. He graduated Contemporary dance major in Chung-ang University, and currently trained in Graduate school of Chung-ang University.
Torgeir Vassvik is an artist, musician and composer born in Gamvik, Finnmark, Sápmi. Known for his endlessly inventive blend of ancient Sami folk music, sounds from nature, diverse instruments, Vassvik employs the traditional Sami practice of the joik, a form of long, slow, chant-style song formed deep in the throat, intended to act as an aural representation of an individual person, landscape or animal – a sort of portrait in sound. Torgeir Vassvik has brought the sounds of northern Norway to audiences across the world. http://vassvik.com
Board members of Babyopera are Marianne Roland and Maja Berthelsen Lindgren
Performers and creative team in productions by Dieserud/Lindgren
that are being presented by Babyopera:
Hanne Dieserud. Hanne is the performer of Korall Korall – A Baby Opera and Up in the Mountains in addition to be credited for idea/ concept/ direction. She finished her postgraduate course at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts ( LAMDA) in 1990. She started her career as a traditional actress but has since 1995 been a member of the physically, Artaudian inspired theatre company Grusomhetens teater. This company uses tecniques from the work of Grotowski where improvisations and research on the floor is given a strong focus. The company has toured in Poland, Germany. England, France, India, Japan, Russia, USA, Turkey and Ireland.
In addition to this she has during the last years been working in different theatres and fringe companies, done readings and concerts with music composed to the texts of the Swedish poet Karin Boye. Her showreel is on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1yLwqvVaDk
Hanna Gjermundrød. Hanna Gjermundrød is a performer of Korall Koral – A Baby Opera. She is an improvising singer and performer working with voice and live sampling. Gjermundrød graduated at NTNU´s Jazz Performance studies in Trondheim (2003-07) and School of New Dance (2007-08) in Oslo. Her interest in instant composition appears both in concerts and in various forms of physical performances. Her music can be drawn to both pop, improv and contemporary music. Gjermundrød has toured in USA, Canada, The Netherlands, Germany, Western Russia, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, mostly in duo with Petter Vågan (lap steel, electronics).
Camilla Vislie. Camilla is a performer of Korall Koral – A Baby Opera. She is a performing artist trained within the physical theatre tradition. She has appeared in several plays by Grusomhetens Teater, as well as conceptdeveloping, directing and performing in her own productions such as the performance theatre companies brigitte & paula band (with Maria Ramvi and Stine Janvin Motland) and Camilla & Jimmie (with Jimmie Jonasson). She also holds a master´s degree in Gender studies.
Stine Janvin Motland. Stine is a performer of Korall Koral – A Baby Opera. She is a performer and composer based in Stavanger, Oslo and Berlin. With an instrumental and physical approach, she explores the limits of the natural acoustics of the voice, and what a singer can, and cannot be. Her work involves elements of conceptual and spontaneous composition, structured improvisation, performance, and sound poetry. Ongoing projects are the solo piece In Labour for voice and environments, Native Instrument with Felicity Mangan, and brigitte & paula band with Maria Ramvi and Camilla Vislie. Alongside her own work, Stine is a performer of contemporary music, and works with composition, movement and voice in a number of interdisciplinary projects, such as the solo performance Prelude (Janvin Motland/Sickle/Leguay). Stine is currently performing in the baby opera Korall Koral (Dieserud/Lindgren & Maja Ratkje) and in the live band of Meshes of Voice (Susanna and Jenny Hval). In 2014 Stine released two solo albums; Ok, wow (+3db) and In Labour (Pica Disk). http://stinejanvinmotland.com