Pop songs in symphonic garb

When Umeå celebrated its 400th anniversary, she captivated the audience at Rådhustorget with her strong stage presence, voice and music. It was the first time Katarina Barruk met the Norrlandsoperan Symphony Orchestra, but fortunately not the last.

Katarina Barruk, who turns thirty this year, grew up in Lusspie (Storuman) and Gajhrege (Gardfjäll) and has been living in Oslo for a few years. She sings in her mother tongue, Ume Sami, an endangered language that she thus helps to keep alive. Barruk’s music also contains elements of joik and vocal improvisation, and her much-talked-about stage performances possess a down-to-earth intensity, with equal parts vulnerability and strength.

To date, Barruk has released two albums, Báruos and Ruhttuo. In this unique concert, we will hear several of her experimental pop songs in symphonic garb, but also works by music creators of earlier times. Norrlandsoperan’s new chief conductor, Eduardo Strausser from Brazil, has composed the program, inspired by Barruk’s music.