Spotlight on cultural heritage in the north

Sweden has several national minority languages and Umeå is part of the administrative area for Sami, Finnish and Meänkieli. This means that we have a special responsibility to promote and protect these languages.

In this year’s Christmas concert at Norrlandsoperan, we enjoy the sounds of languages and songs in the company of several prominent soloists, Norrlandsoperan’s children’s and youth choir and symphony orchestra, conducted by Karl-Johan Ankarblom.

We meet, among others, the artist Katarina Barruk from Gardfjäll/Storuman, the folk musician and singer Hasse Alatalo from the Torne Valley, the Norrland Opera’s mezzo-soprano Susanna Levonen, the Västerbotten fiddler and storyteller Thomas Andersson, the folk singer Ulrika Bodén from Ångermanland and Simon Issát Marainen, joiker, poet and reindeer herder from Vuolle Sohpar/Nedre Soppero. The master of ceremonies is the scriptwriter and journalist Regina Veräjä from Pajala.

Welcome to an atmospheric and urgent Christmas concert where the spotlight is directed at our national minority cultures and our rich cultural heritage in the north.

—

Image: AI-generated/Midjourney