Mahsa Vahdat and Kajsa Balto - Lighting

A musical hope for brighter times

Mahsa Vahdat from Iran and Kajsa Balto with roots from Sápmi both come from cultures that celebrate the life-giving power of the sun and light. The influence of light on nature – and life itself. For the Sámi, nature is something that is managed with future generations in mind. The earth, the mountains, the sun, the light – everything has a soul, and celebrations and rituals are connected to this energy.

The sun, beaivi, is a very central force in Sami mythology. The fire provides light and warmth in the dark, and has an important place in Arctic culture. People gather around the fire. Boil meat or coffee, and the smoke keeps mosquitoes away in the summer. The hearth, árran, is seen as sacred. According to old Sami belief, the goddess Sáráhkka offered under it.

In Persian culture, the sun and light are an image of nature's resilience and reflect man's defiant ability to persevere in the fight for freedom, overcome adversity and rise after defeat. In Iran, they celebrate the New Year when day and night are of equal length, and they light bonfires to get rid of old things. They celebrate the new life in nature – and for man. This and much more is the background for a heartfelt musical encounter between two strong female voices. In Lysning, Mahsa Vahdat and Kajsa Balto convey songs that may give us strength and hope in a world that seems to be on a tipping point between dark and light forces.

For those of you who want to explore Persian song, you have a golden chance when Mahsa Vahdat also holds singing lessons during the festival.

The performance is produced in collaboration with Riksscenen. Producer is Erik Hillestad. Visual elements by Jannik Abel.

Arrangement