This is Rúf English Radio with Darin Adam, daily English language radio from Iceland's national broadcaster, Rúf.Rúf English Radio with Darin AdamRúf English Radio with Darin AdamRúf English Radio with Darin AdamRúf English Radio with Darin AdamRúf English Radio with Darin AdamRúf English Radio with Darin AdamRúf English Radio with Darin AdamRúf English Radio with Darin AdamRúf English Radio with Darin AdamRúf English Radio with Darin AdamRúf English Radio with Darin AdamRúf English Radio with Darin AdamRúf English Radio with Darin AdamRúf English Radio with Darin AdamDiva, which is like a dutch act, there is a dutch performance artist and she has createdthis amazing pop-up show, it just takes like 10 or 15 minutes, but there is an Icelandicsinger singing the diva who will be floating on the waters, it's quite magical.We're also going to MHAU, which is the college of Hamralli, we're going to do this collaborationwith our colleagues who are doing 27 opera in the city theatre, and we're going to doa lecture recital which is about the queerness on the opera stage.And we also do events in Gardafær, and the Nordic House, and in Kópavogur, so we goout of the 101 for sure, and we try to do that.Ok, now you've touched on one of the operatic events.We're going to look at it in more detail in a few days time, so we'll leave that forthe next few days here on Rúf English Radio, touching on the queerness of activity on theopera stage.And there's a comprehensive website that we will link to which has details of all of this.If somebody wants to buy a ticket, does that work for the whole festival, or can they buyindividual tickets?There is a festival pass that is valid for Harpa, and also Tjartnarbjörn.We have a really exciting performance in Tjartnarbjörn with a norwegian singer who is, it's calledIs This It?And he is examining what is happening, like if the world is going to end, and how he willspend his last moments as a classical singer.And he's going to fulfil his dreams by singing his favourite pieces.And the festival pass, it's valid for all the events of Harpa and Tjartnarbjörn, butthe city theatre, they have their separate ticket sales.You are also, typically Icelandically, wearing more than one hat.You're directing this festival, but you're also performing, singing in one of the operasthat is taking place here in Harpa.Yes, so I'm singing the role of Judith in The Castle of Bluebeard.And this is actually, well, the festival, we founded ten years ago a few classical singers,so that's also the core that we always wanted to also make like a place, a festival placefor us and our collaborators to do festival work.So that's where I'm coming from.That's a lot to take on, isn't it?A lead opera role as a performer and running all of this around it.Yeah, it's like, there's lots of fun, but like, it suits me very well.I'm having a lot of fun and I think it's, yeah, it's a good, I really try to make surethat it won't be too much, although it gets intense, but I've got a very good team thatis helping and, yeah.Well we've stolen you away for a few minutes.It's from the rehearsals that are taking place next door.So maybe we go through now and hear some of what is going on because you should be partof these rehearsals, I guess.I guess, I should.Let's go and take a look.All right, take a look and a listen and we shall see who is through here.Gentlemen, hi.Hello.Welcome.Hi.What's your name?Andri.And you are?I am Bluebeard in this production.Yes.Hello, and I'm Stevie and I am the music coach and I did the orchestrations.Hello.Well, as I say, we've taken one of your stars away from the rehearsals that should be takingplace right now.Tell me a little bit about this opera, about this piece.If anyone is unfamiliar with it, maybe thinking that this is the first one they want to cometo and dip their toe into these operatic waters during this festival.It's sort of unique in the opera world because there's only two characters in it, Judithand Bluebeard, and there's usually an orchestra of about 120.So it's not performed very often.But for this festival, we're doing an intimate performance.Okay.It's a close-up version with a smaller orchestra, which I've put together, and you just becomea part of the action in a way that you don't normally get in grand opera.And the story itself is remarkable, it's an allegory, and it's all about locked doorsand people's temptations to want to know what's behind them, even if what's behind them couldbe not particularly pleasant.Yes.Is it a challenging part to play?Yes.It's emotionally to find your way through it.There's a lot to do.There's a lot of big emotions and quick changes between huge explosions and then goingdown to nothing.So yes, it's challenging in that way, yes.And do you find that too with your performer hat on now?Oh, yeah, definitely.Definitely.We are navigating that now in the staging with our director and Steve here.And Harpa, of course, it's a concert hall.It's not an opera house if we go back far enough in modern Icelandic history, we get back intothat conversation about one being built and not the other.Does it work as an opera house, though?Does it work as a place to stage operas?It depends on what you are staging.And we are doing a simple, very simple staging.And the hall we will perform in, Norður Ljós, I like it a lot to sing in it.But it's not the typical opera house, for sure.That's far away from it.But you can do really beautiful chamber operas and smaller productions there, so it's perfectfor that.Okay.Well, I should let you get back to your rehearsals then.Do you want to pick those back up?Do you want to head back to the piano and maybe just leave us with a taste of what wecan expect?And when is this opera being performed?The premiere is on the 30th of October.And there are two shows, the other one is on the 1st of November.Okay.Part of the festival, which runs for a week, I think, doesn't it?A week, yes.From the 25th until the 1st of November.Okay.Well, let's hear a little bit then of what can be expected.46.So we are going to find our place here.And that is, yeah, well, we're going to find our place here.And that is, yeah, well, we're going to find our place here.Okay.So we're going to find our place here.And your scores are on iPads.And your scores are on iPads.Yes!What Bartók have made of that.What Bartók have made of that.Yes!Yes!And so then I don't have to carry all the happy scores with you which is really convenient.So, here we are!46.Ni tómmarsig potar, sé fenng potar.Se fenng potar, sé fenng potar.Se fenng potar, se fenng potar.Hjáttu, hjáttu.Hjáttu, hjáttu.Hjáttu, hjáttu.Hjáttu, hjáttu.Hjáttu, hjáttu.
