A special micropod audioguide to the opening concert of Ultima 2024. Sound artists Chris Watson and Jana Winderen tell Rob Young about their commissioned piece fathom, a symphony of field recordings captured above and below the Norwegian Sea between Oslo and the mysterious Jan Mayen Island.

Writer, interviewer, presenter: Rob Young

Editor: Solveig Sørbø

Rob Young travels with Maja S.K. Ratkje and Paola Palavidi as they prepare to launch Pytheas Travels, a musical/visual cocktail of surreal maritime experiences connecting ancient exploration with modern tourism. 

For more info, see https://www.ultima.no/en/pytheas-travels Ultima Festival 14–23 September 2023: ultima.no

Recorded and presented by: Rob Young

Sound editing: Silje Vemøy

Sound mix: Ådne Hallas at Filt Oslo

Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen

Thanks to Maja S.K. Ratkje and Hypercomf for permission to include sound clips from Pytheas Travels.

Rob Young discusses the music and legacy of German band Einstürzende Neubauten with Chris Bohn – Editor in Chief of The Wire magazine. As a music journalist with the New Musical Express in the early 1980s, Chris was the first British writer to interview and champion the group, whose name means 'collapsing new buildings'. In this conversation recorded live at Kulturhuset, Oslo, during the 2022 Ultima Festival, he shares inside stories from the group's history, apocalyptic sound, and the Cold War Berlin where they were formed. 

Presenter: Rob Young

Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo

Sound mix: Daniel Daatland

Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen

In a live conversation recorded during this year's Ultima Festival, Rob Young meets New York based composer Missy Mazzoli – 'Brooklyn's post-millennial Mozart' – Time Out NY) to hear about the ideas that inspired her new opera The Listeners. We also hear about her previous work with her band Victoire and her earlier acclaimed operas, with librettist Royce Vavrek and director Lileana Blaine-Cruz. 

https://missymazzoli.com

Ultima Festival 15–24 September 2022: full programme at ultima.no

Presenter: Rob Young

Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo

Sound mix: Daniel Daatland

Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen

Ultima 2022 opens on 15 September. The theme of this year’s festival – Freedom is Around the Corner – comes from an artwork by the late Danish artist/agitator Henning Christiansen. Rob Young explores this idea and its relevance to contemporary music and modern day utopian and dystopian thinking. Episode features interviews with Lena Lindgren (author of Ekko) and Thorbjørn Tønder Hansen (artistic director of Ultima).

Ultima Festival 15–24 September 2022: full programme at ultima.no

Presenter: Rob Young

Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo

Sound mix: Daniel Daatland

Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen

Also featuring extracts from: 180 Hammer Blows Against War Monkeys by Henning Christiansen

Ultima 2022 opens on 15 September with a performance of Oresteia by Iannis Xenakis. Rob Young meets bass baritone Seth Carico and percussionists Håkon Stene and Thomas Nilsson during a rehearsal for the 'Kassandra' section of this monumental vocal work. For more info on the free concert at Oslo City Hall (Rådhus) on 15.9.22, go to: https://www.ultima.no/en/opening-concert

Ultima Festival 15–24 September 2022: ultima.no

Presenter: Rob Young

Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo

Sound mix: Daniel Daatland

Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen

Rob Young meets Siv Øyunn Kjenstad to hear about preparations for her new Ultima Festival commission, 'Aspects'. Drummer, vocalist, composer, producer, actor – Siv Øyunn is a true omni-musician. For more info on her concert at MUNCH on 21.9.22, go to: https://www.ultima.no/en/oyunn-aspects

This episode features extracts from the unreleased tracks 'I Know You Can Do It' and 'Wanna Talk to You' by Øyunn. Used with permission. www.sivoyunn.com Instagram: @oyunn

Ultima Festival 15–24 September 2022: ultima.no

Presenter: Rob Young

Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo

Sound mix: Daniel Daatland

Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen

Rob Young meets Jan Martin Smørdal, winner of the Arne Nordheim Composer Prize 2022. Jan Martin's music is partly inspired by natural flocking movements and musical memories. He talks about his reaction to the award and gives us a peek into his creative process. Additional input by Ultima Director Thorbjørn Tønder Hansen and composer Kristine Tjøgersen. 

The portrait concert of Jan Martin's music is on 16 September 2022 at MUNCH, Oslo. https://www.ultima.no/en/arne-nordheim-prize-concert-portrait-jan-martin-smordal

http://smordal.no

Music heard in the programme used by permission. 

1. My Favorite Thing 3 – I.

2. flock foam fume 

3. Flock of Me 

4. (herd)STUDY 

5. My Favorite Thing 2 (for 9 musicians)

2 from the album Flock by Karen Hellqvist (LAWO Records), , on Spotify and CD 

4 from the album Xtended Hearts and Unheard Herds by Ensemble Ernst (LAWO Records), on Spotify and CD 

Ultima Festival 15–24 September 2022: ultima.no

Presenter: Rob Young

Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo

Sound mix: Daniel Daatland

Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen

Rob Young meets composer, improvisor and organist Nils Henrik Asheim. Nils Henrik talks through his forthcoming Organotopia project, to be performed at Ultima Festival, Oslo, on 17 September 2022. Reinventing the organ at an audio-visual public art project taking over a church and park in central Oslo. 

Organotopia: organotopia.no

Ultima Festival 15–24 September 2022: ultima.no

Presenter: Rob Young

Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo

Sound mix: Daniel Daatland

Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen

Ultima Context – the podcast that takes you deeper into the world of contemporary and experimental music.

Composer and santur player Javid Afsari Rad talks about 'Bigah', his work for the NOWOR orchestra, an Oslo based collaboration between musicians from many different backgrounds and music traditions.. For more info: https://ultima.no/en/events/721cd2a5-6d40-4faf-b06d-7d3361003e1e

Presenter: Rob Young

Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen

Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo.

The Ultima Context Podcast is a production of Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival. Find out more at ultima.no