Welcome to the world premiere of Asle and Alida, written by the Norwegian author Jon Fosse and the Danish composer Bent Sørensen. We are looking forward to see how the Swedish stage director and Fosse-enthusiast Sofia Adrian Jupither will give life to this timeless and touching tale here in Bergen.

Several years before the Norwegian author Jon Fosse was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2023, he was asked by the then designated Artistic director Eivind Gullberg Jensen at Bergen National Opera to write a libretto for a new opera.

Fosse chose the love story from his own Trilogy, about the two teenagers Asle and Alida. With their few belongings, they are sailing to the town of Bjørgvin, in the search of a safe haven in a harsh world, and seeking comfort in music and each other. When everyone refuses to open their doors for this young fiddle player and his pregnant girlfriend, dramatic choices are made.

ASLE AND ALIDA

Opera in two acts
World premiere

Bent Sørensen / Music
Jon Fosse / Libretto
based on The Trilogy (Trilogien) by Jon Fosse

CREATIVE TEAM
Johannes Gustavsson / Conductor
Sofia Adrian Jupither / Stage director
Erlend Birkeland / Set designer
Maria Geber / Costume designer
Ellen Ruge / Lighting designer
Håkon Matti Skrede / Chorus master

CAST
NN / Asle
Louise McClelland Jacobsen / Alida
Johannes Weisser / The older man
Randi Stene / The older woman
Kari Dahl Nielsen / The younger woman
NN / Åsleik

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Edvard Grieg Choir

World premiere in Grieghallen in Bergen Saturday 29 March 2025
Also performed 31 March, 2 and 4 April

Performed in Norwegian, surtitles in Norwegian and English
Duration: Approx. 2 hours and 15 minutes including 30 minutes interval after act 1

A new production by Bergen National Opera, in collaboration with the Royal Danish Theatre (Det Kongelige Teater) in Copenhagen.
Presented by Bergen National Opera in collaboration with Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and Edvard Grieg Choirs

After the world premiere here in Bergen, Asle and Alida will be performed in Copenhagen in May and June 2025
The ticket sales for Bergen start June 5 (2024)