Eline Arbo stages Edvard Grieg's only song cycle "Haugtussa" as music theatre in celebration of being different

Music theatre

13.9.-15.9.2024

Jahrhunderthalle Bochum

Grieg’s only song cycle as music theatre celebrating difference

From an early age Haugtussa (literally: The Mountains Maid) can tell she’s different: she sees things other people can’t see and has powers other people don’t have. Finding no place in the community, she takes refuge in nature, searching for herself and finding her first great love, who only causes her more pain. Struggling with being different, she feels lost, caught between the expectations of society and her own innermost desires. The Norwegian author Arne Garborg wrote the poems about Haugtussa in 1885, and immediately inspired Edvard Grieg to compose his famous song cycle, giving Haugtussa her musical voice. Intertwining theatre and music, the ensemble from Nationaltheatret in Oslo will perform together with mezzosoprano Adrian Angelico and pianist Marita Kjetland Rabben. The director Eline Arbo, whose productions are often like rock concerts, captures the moods of the story powerfully and atmospherically. With music by Thijs van Vuure, the result is an intense interdisciplinary experience.

Produced by Nationalteatret (Norwegiean National Theatre) in co-production with Ruhrtriennale.

Audio introduction

Find out more about the the production in our audio introduction.

People dressed in white stand in a group in a blue-lit hall. — Haugtussa, director: Eline Arbo. F.l.t.r.: Ida Wigdel, Adrian Angelico, Christian Ruud Kallum, Øystein Røger, Marita Kjetland Rabben, Hanne Skille Reitan. In the front: Kjersti Tveterås, Liv Bernhoft Osa © Caroline Seidel, Ruhrtriennale 2024

Menschen in weißen aufwedigen Kleidern stehen auf einer dunklen Bühne und tanzen. — Haugtussa, director: Eline Arbo. F.l.t.r.: Øystein Røger, Christian Ruud Kallum, Hanne Skille Reitan, Liv Bernhoft Osa, Marita Kjetland Rabben, Kjersti Tveterås © Caroline Seidel, Ruhrtriennale 2024

A person stands in a dark hall carrying a metal bucket, other people in white clothing stand in the background. — Haugussa, director: Eline Arbo. In the front: Kjersti Tveterås, Adrian Angelico © Caroline Seidel, Ruhrtriennale 2024

Two people dressed in white are sitting on the floor with a bucket next to them. One person holds up a hand smeared with a black liquid. — Haugtussa, director: Eline Arbo: F.l.n.r.: Kjersti Tveterås, Adrian Angelico © Caroline Seidel, Ruhrtriennale 2024

A group of people in white clothing stand close together and hug each other. — Haugtussa, Regie: Eline Arbo. F.l.t.r: Ida Wigdel, Liv Bernhoft Osam, Kjersti Tveterås, Øystein Røger, Christian Ruud Kallum © Caroline Seidel, Ruhrtriennale 2024

A dark stage is illuminated by several fluorescent tubes, people dressed in white stand scattered around the stage. — Haugtussa, director: Eline Arbo. Centre: Adrian Angelico © Caroline Seidel, Ruhrtriennale 2024

Cast

Composition
- Edvard Grieg
Direction
- Eline Arbo
Composition, Music
- Thijs van Vuure
Set Design, Lighting Design
- Norunn Standal
Costume Design
- Alva Walderhaug Brosten
Sound Design
- Dennis Slot
Choreography
- Ida Wigdel
Hair/ Make-Up
- Ida Kristine Høgbakk
Dramaturgy, Adaption
- Njål Helge Mjøs
English Translation
- May Brit Akerholt
German Translation
- Martje Vande Ginste ,
- Juliane Hollerbach
With
- Kjersti Tveterås (Veslemøy) ,
- Christian Ruud Kallum (JON and ensemble) ,
- Øystein Røger (The King of Blue Hill and ensemble) ,
- Liv Bernhoft Osa (The Mother of Veslemøy and Ensemble) ,
- Hanne Skille Reitan (THE RICH BITCH FROM ÅS) ,
- Adrian Angelico (Singer and Lisabeth, Veslemøys dead sister) ,
- Marita Kjetland Rabben (Piano) ,
- Ida Wigdel (Dancer und ensemble)
Production Manager Ruhrtriennale
- Paula Häfele
Technical Project Manager Ruhrtriennale
- Klaus Hammer
Technician
- Harald Adams ,
- Konrad Anger ,
- Steven Böhm ,
- Thomas Dietrich ,
- Willi Eidam ,
- Desirée García López ,
- Tanya Hofmann ,
- Severino Jurischka ,
- Andreas Korogonas ,
- Torben Krol ,
- Franzi Luhn ,
- Ole Meißner ,
- Gerd Mikuscheit ,
- Fernando Quartana ,
- Uwe Renken ,
- Stephan Schneppel ,
- Alma Schraer ,
- Ralph Schwarzenauer ,
- Ian Weinfurtner ,
- Christoph Wüst
Dressing, collaboration costumes
- Sabine Höhfeld ,
- Chantal Baumann

Song list

Veslemøy

Det syng

Killingdans

Blåbærli

Møte

Elsk

Vond dag

Ved Gjætle-Bekken

Visit

Language

Norwegian with German and English surtitles.
Supporters

Supported by Ammodo. With the kind support of the Rudolf Augsteig foundation.
Run time

1 h 45 min
Age guidance

Recommended from 14 years
Introduction

An introduction will take place in the upper foyer of the Jahrhunderthalle Bochum one hour before the start of each event.
Sensory stimuli

Smoke and fog are used during the event.

Some scenes take place partly in complete darkness.
Advise on content

The event will deal with depression, mobbing, suicide and mental illness.
Artist talk

Following the performance on Saturday, 14 Sept, we invite interested people to an artist talk with participants of the production. The conversation is conducted in English.
Construction site information

Since 6 August, the A40 has been fully closed between the Bochum-West junction and the Bochum-Harpen junction due to the construction of a new bridge. Visitors to the Ruhrtriennale must be prepared for increased traffic on the diversion routes, which we have summarised for you here.
Programme

Further information about the production can be found in the programme flyer. It is also available in printed form at the performances on site.