the deer park
a choral drama about opression
Borgholm Castle
drabantsalen
May 12
köpings church, köpingsvik
May 11
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"The story is skilfully delivered with nerve, empathy and feeling by singers of the highest class..
" The wonderfully surprising and bright finale lifts life and the freedom and perhaps the idea that there is a nature's own mysterious force that is a co-creator in a change. And the choir ends with a jubilant joyous triumph after the poetically beautiful the epilogue about a land called free, an anthem about peace and freedom...
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"The Deer Park is a musical drama that is universal, a work you want to hear again. Maybe music can change the past…
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Lena Svensson, Barometern
2024 05 13
Dear audience, thank you for coming!
Download libretto (SV)
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VOKALHARMONIN, choir
FREDRIK MALMBERG, musical direction
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SOLOISTS
ELEONORA POIGNANT, soprano
ANNA ZANDER, mezzo-soprano
SIMON FRANK, tenor
KARL SÖDERSTRÖM, baritone
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ENSEMBLE/SOLOISTS
MIKA TAKEHARA, percussion
DOHYO SOL, theorbo
MATS WALLIN, bass clarinet
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Music and libretto:
HANS GURSTAD-NILSSON
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On April 7, 1569, the Swedish King Johan III declares Öland a Royal Deer park. This is the prelude to more than two hundred years of oppression of Öland's commoners. The protected game reproduce freely, trample down and eat the crops. All hunting is prohibited. Dogs must be mutilated so that they become three-legged. Cutting timber and firewood from the forests for household needs becomes illegal.
In order to survive the islanders ignore the prohibitions. Violations are severely punished, with public whipping, heavy fines, forced labor and in some cases banishment. The collective memory of the torments is an open wound to this day.​
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The Deer park is a choral drama about historical identity on Öland, a fairy tale between historical reality and fable, where the animals themselves intervene.
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In collaboration with Öland´s hembygdsförbund. With generous support from Signatur, SydostLeader, Swedish Arts Council, Borgholm municipality and Ölandsfonden.
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Warm thanks you to our sponsors and all the participants who made this possible!
