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Ovllá
by Cecilia Damström
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<p>"<em>Ovllá </em>is an opera about the disappearance of truth and about profound loneliness. It tells the story of having one’s roots and cultural heritage torn apart. When a child is separated from their parents and forced into a boarding school, they encounter an unfamiliar language and culture. This experience leads to the trauma of abandonment and isolation. What was once familiar becomes foreign, and the child grows up ashamed of their identity. This sense of alienation forms an identity that offers no peace. </p><p>Our protagonist, a victim of assimilation policies, has lost something crucial that he has buried and tried to forget: Who he is. Love awakens a desire to return to his roots and helps Ovllá realize that one cannot simply decide to become someone else. Can Ovllá stop forgetting and choose to start remembering? </p><p><em>Ovllá</em> is written by Sámi playwright <strong>Juho-Sire/Siri Broch Johansen</strong>, composed by Finnish composer <strong>Cecilia Damström </strong>with consultation from Sámi composer <strong>Ánndaris / Anders Rimpi</strong> and directed by Oulu Theatre’s director <strong>Heta Haanperä</strong>.<strong> </strong>The opera’s orchestra is Oulu Sinfonia, conducted by Oulu Sinfonia’s chief conductor <strong>Rumon Gamba</strong>. </p><p>The music evokes grand and flowing sonic landscapes deeply rooted in Sámi nature. However, beneath the beauty lies a stark narrative of struggle: colonial powers like Finland, have stripped the Indigenous Sámi peoples of their harmonious coexistence with nature, seeking to replace it with industrialisation and institutionalisation. This is reflected in the music, where the natural flow is juxtaposed with rhythm, order, and rigidity. Amid this orchestral dialogue, the authentic voices of Sámi joikers emerge, embodying the resilience of individuals reclaiming an identity stolen from them in childhood. </p><p>The composer, Cecilia Damström, will write the music in close collaboration with Sámi musicians, who will compose all the joiks we hear in the opera. Their joiks will be an integral part of the musical composition to honor their heritage and integrate their voices into a shared musical expression. </p><p>The production brings to the Main stage of Oulu City Theatre the perspective of the Sámi, the only indigenous people of the Nordic countries, and the painful consequences of state-led oppression that continue to affect new generations of Sámi. </p><p>At the heart of the opera is the sharing of knowledge and taking responsibility for state-led injustices, as well as highlighting the experiences of the Sámi people. While the work critically examines societal structures and discrimination, it also gently focuses on the individual. <em>Ovllá </em>is a fictional story, but everything that happens in it has happened to someone on both the Finnish, the Swedish, the Norwegian and the Russian side of Sápmi at some point. </p><p>The production features Sámi artists as guest designers: <strong>Geir Tore Holm</strong> as set designer, <strong>Helmi Hagelin/Bihtošoabbá Helme </strong>as costume designer, and <strong>Øystein Heitmann</strong> as lighting designer. The sound design is by <strong>Jari Niemi </strong>from Oulu Theatre. <strong>Emil Kárlsen </strong>will be taking on the lead role. </p><p>Performance languages are Northern Sámi and Finnish. There will be Finnish, Northern Sámi and English subtitles. The opera is produced in collaboration with Oulu Sinfonia, the Sámi National Theatre Beaivváš, and Oulu2026."</p><p>Cecilia Damström</p>
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Lasten Keskus
Robert Lienau Musikverlag
Schirmer
Savonlinna Opera Festival
Musiikki Andante
Akademiska musikförlaget
Suvini Zerboni
Ascolta Music Publishing
Publisher: in 1962 as MC facsimile in a journal “Ruoveden Joulu 1962”
Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura
Kustannus-Toimisto Tieto
Raittiuskansan kirjapaino
F-Musiikki
Kansallinen kirjakauppa
Bluebird Music Oy AB
Carlander Torsten
E. Pietiläinen
YLE
Music Ilari
Chappell Music ltd
Otto Murentini Ky
Robert King Music Sales
julk. Förlaget Bro
7ikko-kustannus Ay
Barents
Hohner Verlag
EK-Production Oy
Boosey & Hawkes
Sicron Musikverlag
Warner/Chappell
Edda Music
Edda Music
Toivo Kuula -seura & Sulasol
Edition Gehrman
Nils-Georgs Musikförlags Ab
Finlands svenska Kyrkosångsför
Lundholm
F-Kustannus
Published in compilation Uudet Siionin Laulut ja Virret (1975)
Edition 7
Brages förlag / Sulasol
Muntra Musikanter
julk. Bruk, Fridrich
Like (julk.)
Henry Lemoine
Suomen Sinfoniaorkesterit ry
Yhteiskustannus
Rautatien Soittajat
Ricordi
Published in compilation Siionin Laulut (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 1977)
Helsingin ortodoksinen seurakunta
Ostinato
Published in Chorus series 14, Fazer (1961)
Publisher: Musikverlag Josef Weinberger
Karjalan Laulu
United Music Publshing Ltd
Artemusa
The Academy of Finnish Art Song
Bo Ejeby Förlag
Holms Förlag
Suomen kirkkomusiikkiliitto ry
Published in compilation Siionin Laulut ja Virret (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 1963)
Weilin & Göös
Augener
Alouettes Editions Sarl
Valistus
Aikamedia
Edition Durand
Divertimento
Edition Elvis
Publisher: Pirkan musiikkituotanto Oy
Third prize in Luses Big Band Competition in 1987
Not available
SatnaMusic Publishing
Published by the composer
Körlings Förlag
Hämeen läänin taidetoimikunta
Tuba-Euphonium Press
Bärenreiter
Published in Otavan Laulukerho IV
Erik Lindström Kustannus
Uusinta Publishing Company
Gehrmans Musikförlag
Rockadillo
Polarvox
Published in Laulukerho IV (Otava 1951)
Savolaisen osakunnan laulajat
Publisher: Sound In
Suomen Laulu
SLEY
Nordiska musikförlaget
Friisilän Musiikki
Released by the Finnish Broadcasting Company
Edition TROY
Beuermann
Scandinavian Music Interest
Modus Musiikki
Publisher: Musical Works (Beijing)
Fenix
Gummerus
Siionin Laulut ja Virret (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 1963)
Publisher (no. 1): ArtEmusa
KYL - Kauppakorkeakoulun Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat
Puijon laulu ry
Otava
FSKO
Musiikki mosse oy
Edition Pine
SÄVELTÄJÄ POISTANUT
Edition Reimers
Publisher (no. 1): Selvät Sävelet
Publisher: Edition JLe
Kansalliskuoro
Edita
Lindgren
Eskimo Music
Carlander-Reuterfelt
Alex Freeman Music
Edition Peters
Karjalan kirjakustantamo
Edition Musact
Lahden kans.väl.urkuviikko ry.
Edizioni Sconfinarte
Salabert
Sällskapet M.M.
Vee-Music
TomiRaisanen.com
Laulu-Miehet
Suomen Mieskuoroliitto
Åbolands sång- och musikförbund
Love Records & Kaj Chydenius
Published in compilation Siionin Joulu (1965)
Published in compilation Siionin Laulut (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 2000)
Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat
Peters
manus
Silver Burdet
A-Minor Production
Kanteleliitto
Ab Svenska Läromedel
LARI-Invest Oy
Ruslania Edition
Publisher: Chanterelle Verlag/MEL BAY
Förlaget Bro
Breitkopf & Härtel
Teemu Halmkrona Music
Lindström Erik (ED)
Donemus
Ampleforth
Laulukerho V (Otava 1958)
Fennica Gehrman
Palonen Rauno
Tuomisaari yhtiö
SKUL/SKML
Julk. Matti Rag Paananen
Kirkkohallitus
[withdrawn]
Birdsong Music Publishing
Hirsis-Production Ky
Ongaku No Tomo Sha Copr.
Yrjö Weilin
[original version withdrawn]
Edition Tre Fontane
Henri Delrieu
Harmonikansoiton opettajat ry
Pohjois-Karjalan kansanmusiikki- ja tanhuliitto ry.
Arvo Räikkönen
Sulasol, Novello
Suomi Loosi 1
Sävel
Faber Music
Bote & Bock
Publisher: Tritonus Magazine 1978-1980
Abr. Lundquist
Edition Tilli
Sulasol
Doblinger
lauriporra.com
Tactus
Edlund G.W.
Antti Sarpila Oy
Atena
Päivä
Musiikki-Pukkila
Edition Eero Nallinmaa
Finlands svenska sång-och musikförbund
julk. Karjal. kultt. edistämissäätiö
Ortodoksisen kirjallisuuden julkaisuneuvosto
Leduc
Publisher: (songs 1-2) 1904, Lindgren
Antero Hytinkoski
Acta Musica
Publisher: Kirkon jumalanpalvelus- ja musiikkitoiminnan keskus
Elkan & Schildknecht
Filarmonica
Publisher: Viitanen Music Edition Oy
Opus Musicus
Ambitone Oy
Liewendal
Annie Bank
Simrock
Prima vista
Publisher: Lahti Male Choir
Fazer, Valitut palat
[not available]
Dallapé Kustannus Oy
Published in Laulukerho IV, Otava 1951
Sibelius-Akatemian kansanmusiikin osasto
Palonen Kalle
MAHTAAKO OLLA OLEMASSA?
Viipurin lauluveikot
Polytech Choir
Hug
Chester Music
Billaudot
Skandinavisk Musikförlag
Isdatelctvo "Musika"
Brages förlag
Suomen kunnallisliitto
Naiskuoroliitto
Publisher: SHI
Heikki Sarmanto music shop
Evankelis-luterilainen yhdisty
Lundquist
Periferia Music
Compozitor Publishing House
Suomen Kanttori-urkuriliitto
Finnish Accordion Teachers' Association
Noteline
Weltmusik
Herättäjä-yhdistys
Published in Laulukerho V (Otava 1958)
Imudico
[lost, only a sketch exists]
Edition Eres
Tactus, Sulasol
Finnish Accordion Institute
Pelastakaa Lapset ry
Helsingfors Nya Musikhandel
H.N.White
Publisher: Viitanen Music Edition Oy (1975 version)
Dorn Publications
Helin-Sons Oy
LeBaron Music
Blosari
Imagine Music Publishig
Schildts
Sikorski
[lost]
Tuomas Kantelinen Music
SK-Gehrmans Musikförlag
Kadonnut
Jäger Hugo
Rautatien soittajat
Wesslin Music
Publisher: Valistus 1953; [not available]
Laulukerho IV (Otava 1951)
Julk. Siba
Friisilän musiikki oy
Suomen kuoroliitto
Mårtensong OY/AB
julk. Valistus
UNC Jazz Press
Éditions À Coeur Joie
Editions Musicales Transatlantiques
Publisher: FSSMF
Metropolis Music Publishers
WSOY
Publihhed in compilation Siionin Laulut (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 1977)
Bells
Edition Svitzer
Lundholm C A
Musikverlag Josef Weinberger GmbH
Kirkon keskusrahasto/Sulasol
Körlings förlag
Hans Busch Musikförlag
Publisher: Edition Modern
Lieman
Svenska Sång- och Musikförbund
BRS Music
Carl Gehrmans Musikförlag
Edward B. Marks Music Corporat
Publisher: Centre for Worship and Music of the Evangelican-Lutheran Church of Finland
Modern
Kirkkomusiikkiliitto
Uusi Suomi
Publisher: Scandia
Published in compilation Siionin Laulut ja Virret (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 1963/2000)
Pianokoulu Vivo 2, Otava
Libito
Finlands Svenska Kyrkosångsför
Syrene Music
Julk. Kalevan Laulajat
Fischer Carl INC
TRN Music Publisher Inc.
Schott Music
Suomen musiikkikirjatoyhdistys r.y.
Västnyländska kultursamfundet
Seesaw-Music corp
Kirkon keskusrahasto
Publisher (No. 34): Edition Kontrapunkt
Pianokoulu Vivo 3, Otava
Published in compilation Pääsiäissana (1979)
Zen Master records & Publis
Engstrom & Sodring
Romain-Dorkin Company OY
Tammi
Verlag Neue Musik
Publisher: Chanterelle Verlag, Germany
STM-Music
Love Kustannus Oy
Kuva ja sana
Kalevan laulajat
Suomen Pasuuna- ja Tuubaseura
EMI
Kansanmusiikki-instituutti
Publisher: J.H. Music
Schlesinger
Suomen naiskuoroliitto ry
Edward B. Marks
Published in compilation Siionin Laulut ja Virret (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 1975)
Mirandos
Norsk Musikförlag AS
SPOL
[Withdrawn. Arabescata (1962) named as Symphony no. 4 in 1986]
Novello
saulizinovjev.com
Publisher (no. 1): Helsinki University Chorus (YL)
Kansanvalistusseura
Holms förlag
Edition Wilhelm Hansen
Opus musicus
Publisher: in 1964 as MS facsimile in a journal “Kangasalan joulu 1964”, s.8
Zen-On Music Co
Musikvetenskapliga Seminariet
Coda
Kompass records
Association of Finnish Music Schools
Svenska folkskolans?
Lahti Organ Festival
Universal Edition
Recital Music
Publisher: JKC
Reimers
Sortavalan Evankelinen Seura
Gross Music
Published in compilation Siionin laulut (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 2000)
Publisher: AMEE, Spain
Suomen M.M.M. Suur-Loosi
Musikvetenskapliga seminariet
[probably lost; location not known]
Publisher: Church Year of the Missions 1970
julk. Uspenskin katedraalin mieskuoro
Editio Musica
Turun tähtituotanto Oy
[withdrawn; song 2-3 lost]
Musica experta
Chorus