Music History in the Making

The queen of Sámi music meets the orchestra of the people in Norway March 28 as part of WITBC Sápmi 2012.

Mari Boine, having created a personal expression with a mix of Sámi music, rock and tones from various cultures, is excited about the concert.

– Previously I have played with KORK in connection with the Nobel Peace Prize. This will be a full concert, and I am really looking forward to it, Boine says.

Rootsworld, a magazine of world music, roots and folk music, has described Boine as «an unofficial Sami cultural ambassador».

Two jewels

TV-broadcasters and industry from all over the world will be offered a meeting between two musical jewels.

– Mari Boine is the largest World Music artist in the Nordic countries. In fact, nobody can match her among the European stars in the genre, Jan Fredrik Heyerdahl in KORK claims.

The Norwegian Radio Orchestra have gathered critical acclaim internationally, and performed with top of their league solists

Orhcestra leader Rolf Lennart Stensø calls the Mari Boine event a unique coooperation.

– This will create history in several ways. For the first time KORK is cooperating with a Sámi artist, and it will be nice to devote our full attention to Mari Boine. It's about time, Stensø says.

Also this concert will be KORKs debut in the middle of the Mountain Plateau of Finnmark.

– We are an orchestra for the whole nation, and we believe it's important to have the opportunity to play in Guovdageaidnu, being central in the Sámi area.

Living in the European Union

On the road KORK consists of about 80 persons. This calls for planning and logistics.

During WITBC the accomodation capasicity in Guovdageaidnu is pushed to the limits.

The concert is being filmed for TV, and the team from NRK in Norwegian capital of Oslo have been forced to book hotels in the Europian Union - in Enontekiö in Finland, about 80 kilometers from Guovdageadnu.

– I didn't realize the size and scope of this event before the inspection earlier this month, idea creator and magazine chief of staff Wenche Marie Hætta in NRK Sápmi says.

In the production control room - enter John Andreassen, the only Professor in multicam production in Norway, and in charge of the pictures from the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer in 1994.

Buy tickets early

Music lover Ravdna Anti in neighbour community of Kárásjohka is not willing to take any risks, and has been in touch early to get her hands on tickets.

– I guess this this concert will be popular, Anti says.

She will travel with a full vehicle to attend the concert.

WITBC attendees can reserve tickets during registration. Tickets are made publicly available Monday on Billettservice, and at the kiosks Narvesen and 7-Eleven. In Kautokeino tickets are available at the NRK Sápmi office.

– Even though this concert is taking place far away from the most populated areas in the country, many will travel to Guovdageaidnu in the week before easter. Traditionally the locals might be a little late when it comes to tickets, but to be on the safe side, we don't recommend waiting long, Kent Valio, head of projects in NRK Sápmi, says.

– A part of the tickets are reserved for the WITBC attendees, and accordingly the amount of publicly available tickets is somewhat limited, Valio says.

• Mari Boine webpage
• The Norwegian Radio Orchestra webpage

This event is made possible with the support from Sámediggi - the Sámi Parliament in Norway.