Night Lives at Ars Musica

Time and place tbc!

Let your eardrums grow on your ribs.

Tongues under the soles of your feet.

Put your hands behind your ears.

There you go. Now you’re ready for the night.

When the sun goes down, a whole new world comes to life that most of us know little about. Although we share physical space with these creatures, we rarely meet them. Evolution has given them senses that we humans do not have, senses that allow them to rule the night just as we rule the day.

Composer Kristine Tjøgersen has teamed up with biologist Hanna Bjørgaas, author of the book The Secret Life of the City, lighting designer Evelina Dembacke and set designer Ellen Jerstad. Together with Cikada Ensemble, who comissioned the work, they will explore the nocturnal animals and their quirky sensory world.

Welcome to Night Lives – to the lives of those who sing in the dark and communicate on different frequencies.

Darkness and night are almost extinct by human illumination, and our illuminated cities make life difficult for those who cherish the dark. When the sun goes down, a whole new world comes to life that most of us know very little about.

Night Lives uncovers and investigates several phenomena of darkness; The fascinating organisms that live in the darkness beneath our feet, and the communication and life of bats, night-flying moths, hawkmoths, and eggars. The performance aims to uncover and present those things we don’t usually see and hear in our city. Observations and other biological data are transformed into sound composition, video, installations, and light. Through that, Night Lives creates a poetic, philosophical and surprising stage performance.

Night Lives gives a unique insight into this secret and endangered part of life that surrounds us.

Photo: Signe Fuglesteg Luksengard