Wardruna – World Tour Part II

In the organizer's words:

The Norwegian music project Wardruna is coming to Chemnitz!

From the deep forests comes Birna, the sixth studio album by Wardruna. Through his tireless dialog with nature, main composer Einar Selvik has embarked on a search for the voice of the bear. The result is this album, which was released on January 24, 2025. Birna - the bear in Old Norse - is a work of art dedicated to the guardian of the forest, the guardian of nature, and her struggles here on earth. She is slowly being driven out of her habitat by modern society and is in a state of permanent hibernation. As a result, the forest is gradually dying and longing for its pulse and its heart - its guardian. Birna calls for her return.

Wardruna draws its inspiration from its immersion in nature and the dialog that takes place between all the creatures, forces and energies there. With a distinctive new sound that simultaneously builds on the musical roots of the Wardruna tradition, Birna nourishes the insight that has been at the center of Selvik's philosophy from the beginning: that you have to let something else die to make room for something new. Einar Selvik, Lindy-Fay Hella and the rest of the group are truly creating something new through something old: not imitating the past, but using it to create their contemporary, authentic and unique sound. Instruments and wisdom from ancient times, paired with modern soundscapes and recorded nature sounds, offer a rare opportunity to tell us something valuable about ourselves. They remind us that we are part of nature, not above it, and they offer a way to remember, not for the sake of remembering, but to gain new and forgotten insights.

In addition to his work with Wardruna, Einar Selvik has composed music for major television and game productions such as Vikings and Assassin's Creed - Valhalla, he gives tutorials and lectures on Old Norse literature, musicology, instruments and philosophy. Wardruna performs in historical locations as well as amidst natural wonders, creating moments of genuine connection between inner and outer landscapes and each other in dialog with the audience. In spring 2025, the audience will experience the awakening of the bear live on stage.