Operakollektivet

The Opera Collective // Café Hærverk In a new concert series, the Opera Collective invades Café Hærverk with contemporary opera, giving the stage to musicians, composers, and artists who are redefining what opera is, and can be. Here, operas that are rarely or never performed are showcased, composed by both living and almost living composers. On December 16th, the Opera Collective presents the Norwegian mezzo-soprano Tone Kummervold, known for her contributions to both the classical and modern opera repertoire. In the concert, she and pianist Knut Erik Jensen perform songs by Alf Hurum, Eva Holm Fosnæs, Missy Mazzoli, Villa-Lobos, Kurt Weill, and John Ireland. The songs are a selection from her album “Unravel Tradition,” released in 2024. "Tone Kummervold is—literally—a significant voice in Norwegian art music. She is a musician who makes an impact on the culture she is part of. On this album, she demonstrates the breadth of her talents.” - Ola Nordal, Ballade, 24-11-12 Kummervold made her professional debut at the Norwegian Opera in 2009, in the role of the third dryad in Antonín Dvořák's Rusalka. This was followed by her performance as Olga in Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin in 2010, further showcasing her growing talent. From 2011 to 2012, she was part of the opera studio before becoming a member of the Norwegian Opera's soloist ensemble for the 2012/2013 season. Throughout her career, Kummervold has demonstrated remarkable versatility. She has sung lead roles in a variety of classical and modern operas, including the title roles in Carmen and La Cenerentola, as well as notable characters such as Ulrica in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera, Mére Marie in Dialogues des Carmélites, Le Pélerin in Kaija Saariaho's L’amour de loin, The Old Lady in Candide, and Baba the Turk in Stravinsky's The Rake’s Progress. Her performance as Angela in the world premiere of Missy Mazzoli's The Listeners in 2022 received immense acclaim, and her interpretation of Verdi's Requiem with the Oslo Philharmonic in 2023 further solidified her reputation as a leading mezzo-soprano. In recent years, Kummervold has achieved international recognition. She made her debut in Paris in 2021, where she performed Beethoven's 9th Symphony with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. In 2022, she captivated audiences at the State Opera in Prague as La Morte in Erwin Schulhoff's Flammen. Additionally, Kummervold has toured with the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra in Handel's Messiah, and she has performed with the Odense Symphony Orchestra in Denmark. With her dedication to the future of opera and a diverse array of performances, Tone Kummervold continues to make significant contributions to the world of opera and classical music. We look forward to presenting Tone Kummervold and Knut Erik Jensen at Café Hærverk, and hope the audience is ready for a festive concert in a busy pre-Christmas season. The concert is supported by the City of Oslo Performers: Tone Kummervold - mezzo-soprano Knut Erik Jensen - piano