Ultima Podcast

Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival

Going deeper into the music with the Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival. The team behind one of the biggest contemporary music festivals in Northern Europe open up the diverse and fascinating world of modern music and experimental sound with innovative sonic portraits with composers and performers. Ultima Festival happens every year in September: see ultima.no for details.

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September 11 · 1 hr 16 min
Listen-Up! at Ultima 2025
How is music made – and under what conditions? Which rituals, tools, and spaces do artists return to when composing, performing, producing or improvising? With whom do they collaborate, and what shapes their sound? Listen-Up is a live “audiozine” that brings together artists from across genres to explore how music takes form today. The event is inspired by When Music Takes Shape, an Arts Council Norway research programme and publication that gathers scientific and artistic reflections on music-making processes and working conditions in contemporary Norway.
S2025 · E4
Sep 18, 2025 · 21 min
Listening as an ethical practice with David Harrington
‘Musicians are trained to listen, and the best of us try to communicate what we hear, both from the world around us and from inside ourselves.’ David Harrington is a violinist and the founding member of Kronos Quartet. In this episode, Rob Young meets Harrington to talk about Kronos’ long-standing commitment to contemporary music, listening as an ethical practice, and the quartet’s constant search for new sounds and new collaborators. The conversation centres on Elja, a new work created with Norwegian composers Benedicte Maurseth and Kristine Tjøgersen, inspired by the vast mountain plateau of Hardangervidda. Harrington reflects on playing newly developed Hardanger instruments, on learning from tradition while opening it to new sonic worlds, and on why music, in unstable times, can still bring people together and help us listen more closely to the world around us. Produced by Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival Written and presented by Rob Young Edited by Solveig Sørbø Theme music by Kristine Tjøgersen Visit us on ultima.no.
S2025 · E2
Sep 14, 2025 · 18 min
Resisting efficiency, productivity and clear-cut answers
‘The explanation is actually the process — the courageto stay in movement and not know where you are going.’ In this episode, Rob Young meets Ewa Jacobsson and herlong-term collaborator Hilde Marie Holsen to talk about Labyrinthic Explanation of Knowledge, a large-scale installation and concert work presented at Ultima 2025. They discuss how their collaboration grew out of shared listening, material exploration and a mutual interest in sound as something physical, spatial and alive. Together, they reflect on working with found objects, sound circuits and live trumpet, on the idea of the labyrinth as a place of uncertainty and discovery, and on forms of knowledge that resist efficiency, productivity and clear-cut answers — but remain deeply necessary today. Produced by ⁠Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival⁠ Written and presented by Rob Young Edited by Solveig Sørbø Theme music by Kristine Tjøgersen Visit us on ultima.no.
S2025 · E2
Sep 12, 2025 · 20 min
Liquid Rooms — dismantling the stage, the seat and the single viewpoint
‘We wanted to forget the stage, forget the constant changes, and give the audience the freedom to choose their own perspective.’ Tom Pauwels is a guitarist and artistic director of the Ictus Ensemble. In this episode, Rob Young meets soprano Nina Guo alongside Tom Pauwels to talk about Liquid Room XII: A Perfect Life, presented at Ultima 2025. Together they discuss the Liquid Room format as a roaming, immersive concert experience — part performance, part mini-festival — where audiences are free to move, listen closely, or drift between sound worlds. The conversation explores Robert Ashley’s Perfect Lives as the core of the evening, and how its dreamlike, speech-based music connects to works by Laurie Anderson, Jennifer Walshe, Jessie Cox, Tom Johnson and others. Guo and Pauwels reflect on voice, listening, collaboration and preparation, and on how disparate pieces are woven into a fluid night of shared attention, sonic streams and poetic parallels. Produced by Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival Written and presented by Rob Young Edited by Solveig Sørbø Theme music by Kristine Tjøgersen Visit us on ultima.no.
S2025 · E1
Jun 20, 2025 · 22 min
Time, territory and trembling staves with Raven Chacon
‘I think we're talking about recognizing the things that are bigger than us and the things that are unknowable in in the universe.’ Raven Chacon is an artist, composer and musician born in the Navajo Nation. In this episode Rob Young meets Raven while he was in Oslo in September 2024. He talks about the thinking behind his performance work Tremble Staves (2017–19), which was a highlight of the Ultima Festival. Iselin Shumba gives exclusive readings from Sarah Zahid’s powerful poetic text, created as an element of the Oslo performance. Written and presented by Rob Young Readings of Sarah Zahid by Iselin Shumba Editing by Solveig Sørbø Theme music by Kristine Tjøgersen Raven Chacon: https://spiderwebsinthesky.com Ultima Festival: https://www.ultima.no/
Sep 11, 2024 · 17 min
BONUS: Fathoming the Arctic seas with Chris Watson & Jana Winderen
A special micropod audioguide to the opening concert of Ultima 2024. Sound artists Chris Watson and Jana Winderen tell Rob Young about their commissioned piece fathom, a symphony of field recordings captured above and below the Norwegian Sea between Oslo and the mysterious Jan Mayen Island. Writer, interviewer, presenter: Rob Young Editor: Solveig Sørbø
Sep 10, 2023 · 22 min
On the ocean with Pytheas Travels
Rob Young travels with Maja S.K. Ratkje and Paola Palavidi as they prepare to launch Pytheas Travels, a musical/visual cocktail of surreal maritime experiences connecting ancient exploration with modern tourism. For more info, see https://www.ultima.no/en/pytheas-travels Ultima Festival 14–23 September 2023: ultima.no Recorded and presented by: Rob Young Sound editing: Silje Vemøy Sound mix: Ådne Hallas at Filt Oslo Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen Thanks to Maja S.K. Ratkje and Hypercomf for permission to include sound clips from Pytheas Travels.
S3 · E7
Oct 10, 2022 · 33 min
Inside Einstürzende Neubauten with Chris Bohn
Rob Young discusses the music and legacy of German band Einstürzende Neubauten with Chris Bohn – Editor in Chief of The Wire magazine. As a music journalist with the New Musical Express in the early 1980s, Chris was the first British writer to interview and champion the group, whose name means 'collapsing new buildings'. In this conversation recorded live at Kulturhuset, Oslo, during the 2022 Ultima Festival, he shares inside stories from the group's history, apocalyptic sound, and the Cold War Berlin where they were formed. Presenter: Rob Young Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo Sound mix: Daniel Daatland Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen
Sep 19, 2022 · 16 min
A hypnotic hum: Missy Mazzoli on 'The Listeners'
In a live conversation recorded during this year's Ultima Festival, Rob Young meets New York based composer Missy Mazzoli – 'Brooklyn's post-millennial Mozart' – Time Out NY) to hear about the ideas that inspired her new opera The Listeners. We also hear about her previous work with her band Victoire and her earlier acclaimed operas, with librettist Royce Vavrek and director Lileana Blaine-Cruz. https://missymazzoli.com Ultima Festival 15–24 September 2022: full programme at ultima.no Presenter: Rob Young Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo Sound mix: Daniel Daatland Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen
S3 · E5
Sep 12, 2022 · 15 min
Freedom is Around the Corner
Ultima 2022 opens on 15 September. The theme of this year’s festival – Freedom is Around the Corner – comes from an artwork by the late Danish artist/agitator Henning Christiansen. Rob Young explores this idea and its relevance to contemporary music and modern day utopian and dystopian thinking. Episode features interviews with Lena Lindgren (author of Ekko) and Thorbjørn Tønder Hansen (artistic director of Ultima). Ultima Festival 15–24 September 2022: full programme at ultima.no Presenter: Rob Young Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo Sound mix: Daniel Daatland Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen Also featuring extracts from: 180 Hammer Blows Against War Monkeys by Henning Christiansen
Sep 9, 2022 · 15 min
Xenakis's Cassandra complex: Ultima's opening concert
Ultima 2022 opens on 15 September with a performance of Oresteia by Iannis Xenakis. Rob Young meets bass baritone Seth Carico and percussionists Håkon Stene and Thomas Nilsson during a rehearsal for the 'Kassandra' section of this monumental vocal work. For more info on the free concert at Oslo City Hall (Rådhus) on 15.9.22, go to: https://www.ultima.no/en/opening-concert Ultima Festival 15–24 September 2022: ultima.no Presenter: Rob Young Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo Sound mix: Daniel Daatland Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen
Aug 30, 2022 · 12 min
Aspects of Øyunn: A new role for Siv Øyunn Kjenstad
Rob Young meets Siv Øyunn Kjenstad to hear about preparations for her new Ultima Festival commission, 'Aspects'. Drummer, vocalist, composer, producer, actor – Siv Øyunn is a true omni-musician. For more info on her concert at MUNCH on 21.9.22, go to: https://www.ultima.no/en/oyunn-aspects This episode features extracts from the unreleased tracks 'I Know You Can Do It' and 'Wanna Talk to You' by Øyunn. Used with permission. www.sivoyunn.com Instagram: @oyunn Ultima Festival 15–24 September 2022: ultima.no Presenter: Rob Young Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo Sound mix: Daniel Daatland Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen
S3 · E2
Jun 23, 2022 · 15 min
Flock tactics: Prizewinning composer Jan Martin Smørdal
Rob Young meets Jan Martin Smørdal, winner of the Arne Nordheim Composer Prize 2022. Jan Martin's music is partly inspired by natural flocking movements and musical memories. He talks about his reaction to the award and gives us a peek into his creative process. Additional input by Ultima Director Thorbjørn Tønder Hansen and composer Kristine Tjøgersen. The portrait concert of Jan Martin's music is on 16 September 2022 at MUNCH, Oslo. https://www.ultima.no/en/arne-nordheim-prize-concert-portrait-jan-martin-smordal http://smordal.no Music heard in the programme used by permission. 1. My Favorite Thing 3 – I. 2. flock foam fume 3. Flock of Me 4. (herd)STUDY 5. My Favorite Thing 2 (for 9 musicians) 2 from the album Flock by Karen Hellqvist (LAWO Records), , on Spotify and CD 4 from the album Xtended Hearts and Unheard Herds by Ensemble Ernst (LAWO Records), on Spotify and CD Ultima Festival 15–24 September 2022: ultima.no Presenter: Rob Young Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo Sound mix: Daniel Daatland Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen
S3 · E1
May 13, 2022 · 12 min
Organotopia – Organ-ised chaos with Nils Henrik Asheim
Rob Young meets composer, improvisor and organist Nils Henrik Asheim. Nils Henrik talks through his forthcoming Organotopia project, to be performed at Ultima Festival, Oslo, on 17 September 2022. Reinventing the organ at an audio-visual public art project taking over a church and park in central Oslo. Organotopia: organotopia.no Ultima Festival 15–24 September 2022: ultima.no Presenter: Rob Young Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo Sound mix: Daniel Daatland Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen
S2 · E4
Sep 24, 2021 · 16 min
Beyond time and place with Javid Afsari Rad
Ultima Context – the podcast that takes you deeper into the world of contemporary and experimental music. Composer and santur player Javid Afsari Rad talks about 'Bigah', his work for the NOWOR orchestra, an Oslo based collaboration between musicians from many different backgrounds and music traditions.. For more info: https://ultima.no/en/events/721cd2a5-6d40-4faf-b06d-7d3361003e1e Presenter: Rob Young Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo. The Ultima Context Podcast is a production of Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival. Find out more at ultima.no
S2 · E3
Sep 23, 2021 · 12 min
Bathing in sound with Marianne Stranger's Waterwork
Ultima Context – the podcast that takes you deeper into the world of contemporary and experimental music. At a mountain hotel outside Oslo, artist and composer Marianne Stranger is setting up an immersive sound installation called Vannverk (Waterwork), which includes audience members floating in the outdoor pool in large transparent inflatable bubbles. In this sound portrait she talks to Rob Young about the project and we hear extracts of the accompanying music. For more info: https://www.mariannestranger.net Presenter: Rob Young Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo. The Ultima Context Podcast is a production of Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival. Find out more at ultima.no
S2 · E2
Sep 18, 2021 · 15 min
Adventures in Ambient with Carmen Villain
Ultima Context – the podcast that takes you deeper into the world of contemporary and experimental music. We meet Carmen Villain in her studio in central Oslo to talk about the revival of interest in Ambient music and her own production techniques. Presenter: Rob Young Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo. The Ultima Context Podcast is a production of Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival. Find out more at ultima.no
S2 · E1
Sep 17, 2021 · 11 min
Ryoji Ikeda's cymbalism with Jennifer Torrence
Ultima Context – the podcast that takes you deeper into the world of contemporary and experimental music. Jennifer Torrence, percussionist with Oslo based group Pinquins, talks about preparing to perform 100 Cymbals, a new work by the Japanese composer Ryoji Ikeda. The full group performing on 22.9.21 (https://ultima.no/en/events/1eecc959-1227-4bc1-8c2c-2324ebebc0e4) consists of: Michaela Antalová, Johanne Byhring, Sigrun Gomnæs, Ane Marthe Sørlien Holen, Nasra (Nasra Ali Omar), Ylva Bråten Rian, Matilda Rolfsson, Sanskriti Shrestha, Nora Sjøgren, Jennifer Torrence. Direction: Alexandre Babel. Presenter: Rob Young Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo. The Ultima Context Podcast is a production of Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival. Find out more at ultima.no
S1 · E9
Sep 29, 2020 · 49 min
Ep 9 2020: Protest and Survive: Agitation and the Avant Garde
Ultima Context - the podcast that takes you deeper into the world of contemporary and experimental music. Black Lives Matter, corrupt and incompetent governments, environmental disaster and COVID-19 have all been the triggers for public protests in 2020. How is contemporary music keeping pace with these radical movements? Can music still shake the walls down? Hanan Benammar and Sara Baban criticise power structures in performances pieces like the controversial Ways of Seeing in Oslo. Here they talk to Rob Young about racism and truth telling. Recorded live during Ultima Festival 2020. Produced by Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival. Editors: Thorbjørn Tønder Hansen (in-Chief), Torunn Forland and Rob Young. Co-produced by Filt Oslo: Ragnhild Fangel Jamtveit, Peter Daatland. Jingles composed by Kristine Tjøgersen. Supported by Music Norway, Norsk Komponistforening, TONO and Sparebankstiftelsen DNB.
S1 · E8
Sep 29, 2020 · 1 hr 4 min
Ep 8 2020: Dilemmas in Contemporary Music Criticism
Ultima Context - the podcast that takes you deeper into the world of contemporary and experimental music. How can writers and editors make contemporary music accessible and exciting? As a critic of modern music, who are you writing for - those in the low, or fresh pairs of ears? Where is the line between complexity and simplification? We hear from Eystein Sandvik, Synne Skouen, Jørgen Karlstrøm and Anne Hilde Neset. Hosted by Guro Kleveland from Ballade magazine. Recorded live during Ultima Festival 2020. The conversation is in Norwegian. Produced by Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival. Editors: Thorbjørn Tønder Hansen (in-Chief), Torunn Forland and Rob Young. Co-produced by Filt Oslo: Ragnhild Fangel Jamtveit, Peter Daatland. Jingles composed by Kristine Tjøgersen. Supported by Music Norway, Norsk Komponistforening, TONO and Sparebankstiftelsen DNB.

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