ULYSSES JOURNEYS FOR PERFORMERS: IEMA @ULTIMA

And Now, The Weather

In their ULYSSES journey to Oslo, the emerging musicians of the International Ensemble Modern Academy (IEMA) perform works by Nordic composers across generations. The programme includes a new commission for ensemble and electronics by young Danish composer Olivia Køppe, reflecting on historical and contemporary ideas of space travel. Mars’ symbolic power unfolds through three archival layers: an American radio broadcast from 1938, scientific voices from the 1970s and sound recordings made on Mars by the Perseverance rover in 2021.

Alongside Køppe, IEMA performs a new ensemble version of Swedish composer Hanna Hartman’s Advanced Weather Information Processing System, as well as Kaija Saariaho’s modern classic Lichtbogen, with its shimmering evocation of Arctic light.

IEMA shares the evening with Cikada, one of Norway’s defining contemporary music ensembles, performing premieres by Øyvind Torvund and Malin Bång. (read more here)

Programme

Malin Bång flock of fleeting hands for ensemble, world premiere. Performed by Cikada.

Hanna Hartman Advanced Weather Information Processing System (2025), world premiere of ensemble version. Co-commissioned by Ultima and SWR. Performed by IEMA.

Olivia Køppe Blues for a Red Planet for ensemble, tape and electronics, world premiere. Performed by IEMA, commissioned by Ultima.

Øyvind Torvund Five Pieces for String Quartet (2024), world premiere, performed by Cikada

Kaija Saariaho Lichtbogen for ensemble and electronics (1986), performed by IEMA

Read more on the Ultima website and IEMA website