NODE / Brian Cliff Olguin for Ultima
National Anthems
Maja S. K. Ratkje | Ensemble Modern
Imagine there’s no countries, as John Lennon sang. Now, imagine some new ones. With the help of artificial intelligence, composer Maja S.K. Ratkje has invented enough new nations to create a world. Balancing between utopia and dystopia, National Anthems is a performance with theatrical elements consisting of national songs Ratkje has composed to represent fictional countries such as Norland Bolis, The Tepublic of the Fiolli and Handong (find out more at atlantispedia.art).
These hybrid anthems contain many of the characteristics that are commonly cherished in real-world national anthems: a pompous, easily remembered melody that a population can lean into and identify with. Ensemble Modern perform music and rituals, while Ratkje takes on a range of colourful roles as the solo vocalist in each anthem. With scenography by Tormod Lindgren and visuals by Peter Knudsen, the performance will include mini-lectures on nationhood by artist, writer and artistic director of NORDTING – The Northern Assembly, Amund Sjølie Sveen, whose work has focused on the narratives and power struggles of nation states.
Warm up with a visit to Vøyenparken (above Hønse Lovisa’s House) before the performance at Cosmopolite. Here, you can listen to Torshovkorpset perform the piece "The National Anthem of Mathuna" by Maja S.K. Ratkje, arranged specifically for the band. The band will play several short concerts with this repertoire between 20:00 and 21:00. The performance is part of the Elvelangs i Fakkellys event.
Maja S. K. Ratkje. Photo: Niclas Weber
Ensemble Modern. Photo: Wonge Bergmann
Peter Knudsen. Photo: Johs Bøe
Asmund Sjølie Sveen. Photo: Knut Åserud
Tormod Lindgren
Composer, performer, direction, script
- Maja S.K. Ratkje
Perfomance, direction, script
- Amund Sjølie Sveen
Staging, costumes, scenography
- Tormod Lindgren
Video and photo
- Peter Knudsen
Supported by
- Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation
- Goethe-Institut
- Fond for lyd og bilde
- Fritt Ord
Ensemble Modern
- Lina Andonovska: Flute, piccolo, vocals, kazoo
- Christian Hommel: Oboe, cor anglais, vocals, kazoo
- Jaan Bossier: Clarinet, bass clarinet, vocals, recitation, kazoo
- Ronan Whittern, Bassoon, vocals, kazoo
- Rune Brodahl: Horn, vocals, wagner tuba, recitation, kazoo
- Sava Stoianov: Trumpet, vocals, recitation, kazoo
- Uwe Dierksen, Trombone, vocals, kazoo
- Hermann Kretzschmar: Piano, vocals, synthesizer, kazoo
- Sven Pollkötter: Percussion, vocals
- Jagdish Mistry. Violin, vocals, cymbals, recitation, kazoo
- Giorgos Panagiotidis: Violin, vocals, rattle, recitation, kazoo
- Laura Hovestadt: Viola, vocals, trommer, recitation
- Eva Böcker: Violoncello, vocals, triangle, recitation, kazoo
- Paul Cannon: Double bass, double bass (5 strings), vocals, bass drum, e-bass guitar, recitation, kazoo
- Ueli Wiget: Conductor
- Norbert Ommer: Sound direction
- Felix Dreher: Sound technician
Sound direction
- Norbert Ommer
