Composer Cecilia Damström's new opera "Ovllá" premiered at the Oulu Theater on January 16, kicking off Oulu's year as European Capital of Culture. The work is part of a broader wave of contemporary opera in which Sámi culture and history are becoming more prominent on Finnish and international stages.

Damström's composition juxtaposes and contrasts the Finnish and Sámi musical worlds. The voices of the Sámi singers emerge from the midst of the orchestra's dialogue. Damström has composed the music in collaboration with Emil Kárlsen, who plays the leading role. The joiks composed by Kárlsen blend into the composition as a central part, respecting the Sámi cultural heritage and weaving their voices into a shared musical expression.

The libretto (Juho-Sire / Siri Broch Johansen) deals with housing experiences and the consequences of forced assimilation from an individual perspective. The themes are linked to the current debate on the injustices experienced by the Sámi people in Finland.

In addition to Kárlsen's leading role, other roles are sung by Ánne Máddji Heatta (Ánna), Niko Valkeapää (Lemet), and Sara Margarethe Oskal (Ovllá's mother). The Finnish roles are sung by Martin Iivarinen and Sanna Iljin, among others. The opera is directed by Heta Haanperä. The Oulu Sinfonia (Oulu Symphony Orchestra) is conducted by Rumon Gamba. Performances will continue at the Oulu Theater throughout February.

Another opera with Sámi language and culture Giellavealgu (Language Shifter), also premiered this January. The opera, composed by Pessi Jouste and Elias Nieminen, is aimed especially at children and features libretto in Sámi, Swedish/Finnish, Somali, Arabic, Ukrainian, and Swahili. Read more about it on FMQ.