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The Concert Version of the Musical Kristina

Season 2024-2025
Performance Date October 26, 2024
Performance Year 2024
Performance Time 4:00 PM
Location Benson Great Hall, Bethel University, Arden Hills, MN
Performance Title The Concert Version of the Musical Kristina
Composer Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Herbert Kretzmer
Country Sweden
Year Composed 1995
Timing 2 hrs 45min
Performers

Kathryn Rupp, Kristina
Evan Tyler Wilson, Karl Oskar
G. Phillip Shoultz III, Robert
Clara Osowski, Ulrika

Robin Helgen, Fina Kajsa
Ben Brunnette, Arvid (Farmhand at Nybacken)
Andy McCullough, Danjel (Kristina’s uncle)
Elsa Buck, Elin (Ulrika’s daughter)
Joe Kastner, Brusander (Vicar)
Jared Campbell, Pastor Jackson
Erik Krohg, Samuel Nöjd (Fur trapper)
Benjamin Shermock, Thomassen (Shoemaker)
Judith McClain Melander, Marta (Karl Oskar’s mother)
Robert J. Graham, Nils (Karl Oskar’s father)
Anna G Meek, Inga-Lena (Danjel’s wife)
Catherine Terres, Anna (Kristina and Karl Oskar’s child)
Kristina Rodel Sorum, Marta (Kristina and Karl Oskar’s child)
Will Berendsen, Harald (Child)
Jonah Herzog, Johan (Child)

VocalEssence Ensemble Singers
VocalEssence Chorus

Notes

Based on Vilhelm Moberg’s “The Emigrant Novels”
BENNY ANDERSSON BJÖRN ULVAEUS LARS RUDOLFSSON
English Lyrics by Björn Ulvaeus and Herbert Kretzmer
Licensed by Charlotta Teaterproduktion KB

About The Piece

Kristina från Duvemåla ("Kristina from Duvemåla") is a Swedish musical written by former ABBA members Björn Ulvaeus (lyrics) and Benny Andersson (music). It is based on a series of four novels by Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg detailing a family's poverty-driven migration from Sweden to America in the mid-19th century: The Emigrants (1949), Unto a Good Land (1952), The Settlers (1956), and The Last Letter Home (1959).

On 12 October 1996, the 90-minute (of a nearly four-hour score) concert version with the original cast was presented, in Swedish, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as an opening event of the Plymouth Music Series 1996–1997 season in Orchestra Hall; and next day in Chisago Lakes High School in Lindstrom, Minnesota – the area where much of the events in Moberg's books took place and where the statue of the books' two main characters stands on the main street of the town.

On 23 and 24 September 2009, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Ki-Chi-Saga and Universal Music presented "Kristina: A Concert Event"; Music by Benny Andersson; Lyrics by Björn Ulvaeus and Herbert Kretzmer. The concert took place at Carnegie Hall.

Text Translation

ACT I
OVERTURE - Narrator

PATH OF LEAVES AND NEEDLES - Kristina
Kristina is waiting for Karl Oskar

WHERE YOU GO I GO WITH YOU - Karl Oskar and Kristina
Karl Oskar comes to Kristina, but never in such a hurry...He should now propose!

THE WEDDING - Nils, Marta, Kristina, Karl Oskar, and choir

STONE KINGDOM - Karl Oskar and Kristina

DOWN TO THE SEA - Robert
Karl Oskar’s brother, Robert, goes to his first farmhand job.

A BAD HARVEST - Kristina, Karl Oskar, Anna, and choir
Kristina is expecting a baby. Soon there will be eight people at Korpamoen.
But the arable acres can never be more than seven.

NO! - Karl Oskar, Kristina, and Robert
Robert wants his inheritance. He intends to go to North America.
Karl Oskar has the same plans, the same thoughts... but Kristina says no.

HE’S OUR PILOT - Danjel and choir
Like the first Christians, a small group gathers for communion at the home of Kristina’s uncle Danjel.

NEVER - Ulrika
Village whore Ulrika is humiliated by the authorities for the last time.

GOLDEN WHEATFIELDS - Kristina, Nils, Marta, Karl Oskar, and choir
Since Kristina’s daughter Anna died of starvation, Kristina understands that they must leave Sweden...

WE OPEN UP THE GATEWAYS - Brusander, Karl Oskar, Kristina, Robert, Danjel,
Ulrika, Inga-Lena, Elin, Arvid, and choir
The farmers acquire the necessary emigration papers, and pay their respects for the last time.

PEASANTS AT SEA - Kristina and choir
The brig Charlotta sails from Karlshamn towards New York.

LICE - Kristina, Ulrika, Fina Kajsa, Karl Oskar, Danjel, Inga-Lena, and choir
Kristina finds a louse on her body and accuses Ulrika for having brought lice on board.

IN THE DEAD OF DARKNESS - Karl Oskar
Karl Oskar keeps watch over his sick wife’s bed—his vigil is the longest night of his life...

A SUNDAY IN BATTERY PARK - Arvid, Danjel, Fina Kajsa, Robert, and choir
The immigrants’ first steps on American soil are uncertain, unsteady, and precarious.

HOME - Kristina and choir
Kristina dreams of a home for her and her family.

DREAMS OF GOLD - Robert, Arvid, and Karl Oskar
Robert and Arvid forge plans to dig for gold in California.
AMERICAN MAN Kristina, Ulrika, Elin, Fina Kajsa, and Pastor Jackson
Pastor Jackson in Stillwater, Minnesota, greets the lost immigrants as if they were his dearest and nearest relatives.

SUMMER ROSE - Kristina and choir
After her thousand mile journey across sea and land, Kristina gives birth to her first child in America.

NTERMISSION

EMPERORS AND KINGS! - Ulrika, Danjel, Fina Kajsa, Karl Oskar, Kristina, and choir
No one bows here to any superiors! Here life begins from scratch on the shores of Ki-Chi-Saga.

TWILIGHT IMAGES CALLING - Kristina and Karl Oskar

QUEEN OF THE PRAIRIE - Karl Oskar, Kristina, Ulrika, Danjel, Fina Kajsa,
Thomassen, children, Nöjd, and choir
It’s Christmas Eve morning. Kristina receives a surprise.

WILD GRASS - Karl Oskar, Nöjd, and choir
Fur trapper Nöjd accuses Karl Oskar of stealing land from Indigenous People.

GOLD CAN TURN TO SAND - Robert, Kristina, and Marta
One evening a stranger comes down to the lake shore. It is Robert who has come back from the gold fields. He is mortally ill.
Robert tells Kristina what has happened to Arvid.

WILD CAT MONEY! - Karl Oskar, Robert, and pop choir
All Robert’s money turns out to be worthless.

TO THE SEA - Robert
As a river seeks out the sea, Robert makes his last trip...

DEAR ULRIKA, SAY YOU WILL BE MINE - Nöjd, Thomassen, and Abbot
Ulrika has many suitors...but it is with Pastor Jackson that she has found love.

MIRACLE OF GOD - Ulrika and Kristina
Ulrika and Kristina make up.

DOWN TO THE WATERSIDE - Choir
Pastor Jackson baptises Ulrika in the waters of the St. Croix River.

MISCARRIAGE - Ulrika, and Karl Oskar
Kristina loses the child she is expecting.

YOU HAVE TO BE THERE - Kristina
Kristina struggles with her God.

HERE I AM AGAIN - Kristina and Karl Oskar
Kristina decides to share Karl Oskar’s bed again.

ACT II

WITH CHILD AGAIN - Karl Oskar, Kristina, and choir
Civil war breaks out in Minnesota, the Great Sioux Uprising. Kristina is pregnant once again.

RISING FROM MYTH AND LEGEND - Choir
The settlers flee.

I’LL BE WAITING THERE - Kristina, Karl Oskar, and choir
Karl Oskar watches over his wife. For the first time in three days, she recognizes him. Kristina says goodbye...

VocalEssence aims to make our database as accurate as possible. However, if you see an error, please email info@vocalessence.org and include the title of the piece and the date it was performed. Thank you!

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https://vocalessence.org/repertoire/and-herbert-kretzmer-benny-andersson-bjorn-ulvaeus-the-concert-version-of-the-musical-kristina-2024-2025