THE NIGHT PEOPLE
- If you have a voice, sing!

A mayor and investors plan to cut down an old oak forest in order to build cabins. To save the forest and everyone who lives there, youngsters Ciril and Noah take up the fight.

The Night People is a humorous and playful opera which mixes several styles and references. It features famous operas such as Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Bizet’s Carmen along with traditional Norwegian children’s songs, pop music, contemporary music and rhythmic antics. The story is serious and humorous at the same time – it is simply a bird opera that speaks on behalf of Nature.

The village of Indre Kluredal consists of two areas: The local center with the town hall, and an old oak forest where the Night People live in a kind of magical universe. They resemble both birds and humans, and they all love to sing and imitate sounds. The Night People are shy and like things to remain as they have always been. Few know they exist. The mayor of Indre Kluredal, forest owner Kjell, comes into conflict with the Night People. They will lose their lives if the oak forest is cut down to make way for the new cabins and park area Kjell wants to build. The only power the Night People have is a witch who can take away people’s singing voice, making their lives miserable.

Noah and Ciril travel to the capital to ask the queen for help. She is very eager to contribute as she wants to be the people’s queen!

The Night People is an adventurous family opera for everyone from 8 years and up. The opera is simply about deforestation and the need to take care of nature – a well-known theme in today's Norway. But - it is equally about the joy of singing!

THE NIGHT PEOPLE
- If you have a voice, sing!

Knut Vaage / Music
Bjørn Sortland / Libretto

ARTISTIC TEAM
Ingar Bergby / Conductor
Erik Ulfsby / Stage director
Belinda Braza / Choreographer
Vasylyna Kharchevka/ Set designer
Ingrid Nylander / Costume designer
Torkel Skjærven / Lighting designer
Håkon Matti Skrede / Chorus master

CAST
Maia Reppe / Noah
Eldrid Gorset / Ciril
Håvard Stensvold / Kjell
Siv Oda Hagerupsen / Gunn (Cyrewen)
Ivi Karnezi / Dronning Bibbi Jeanette
and more

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Edvard Grieg Kor

Sung and texted in Norwegian
Duration 75 minutter (without break)
World premiere Saturday 6th June 2026 at 6 PM
Also 7th-9th June at 7PM

A co-production by Bergen International Festival and Bergen National Opera w/Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and Edvard Grieg Choirs, The Norwegian Opera & Ballet, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra & Opera and Den Nationale Scene.

Poster design by Lukas Hauge Klemsdal