At Operakafé you will be served a varied program with known and unknown gems and anecdotes from the opera's quirky treasure trove, in relaxed, pleasant surroundings.

"Med Hjertaasen mot jula" is a concert with music by Trondheim's own composer Gunhild Hjertaas, interpreted by soprano Ingeborg Haugvik Francke, baritone Sivert Jullumsrød and Knut Erik Jensen on piano. A tribute to newly written Trønder music and musicians. Knut Erik and Gunhild have worked together before, when he was bandmaster for Gunhild's mirror theatre. The speaker for the evening is actress Kari Wist Holmen. It will consist of 3 parts - a set of music written for a play about Julie Næss, the woman who founded the handicap association. Text by Torvald Sund. A set of music from Bjørnørfolket which is a play about the emigration to America from Nord-Fosen. And a set of Opera Favorites to celebrate the merry Christmas season. We end with a surprise - 'Jul i Hjertaasen' itself - a number from Gunhild's own Christmas performance of the same name.

We offer a reduced ticket price for students, honorees and Opera friends. We have lift access - and accept accompanying proof, remember to notify in advance. Please get in touch if you need assistance, or if you want to join the opera friends association. operavennforening@gmail.com The opera cafe at Rosendal was launched in 2020 in the middle of the pandemic; a collaboration with Rosendal Teater, Skeive Stemmer Operakompani, and Operavennforening. The purpose of the association is to support activities at the Opera Café in Rosendal in collaboration with Skeive Stemmer opera company. A musical meeting place that promotes marginalised, innovative and fearless opera artists and newly established ones in the initial phase of their careers. We create assignments and stimulate dialogue, increased knowledge and interest in the art form in Trondheim and the surrounding area. A little about the actors Composer and actor, Gunhild Hjertaas, has her music education from the NTNU Institute of Music, with first a Bachelor's degree and then she completed her Masters in musicology in 2022. Studying composition, supervised by Henning Sommerro himself. Gunhild began her interest in theater and music at a young age and went straight after high school to the Romerike folk high school, Musikkteater line. She has become a very active, multi-artist, who trained in singing at the Complete Vocal Institute (completed in 2013) and as an actor at the Nordic Institute for Stage and Studio (NISS) in 2011. On a daily basis, she runs the performing arts company Holmen/Hjertaas AS together with Kari Wist Holmen.

Ingeborg Haugvik Francke, soprano (she/her) Ingeborg originally comes from Hamar, but she has her education from the conservatory of music in Trondheim, and her main work is as a freelancer in Trøndelag and inland. In addition to being a widely used soloist, she works frequently for Trondheim Vokalensemble, among other things. She has also worked for, among others, Opera Trøndelag, Opera in Kristiansund, Opera Rogaland, Sandnes Opera and Operetta Company and Vestfold Symphony Orchestra. On several occasions she has participated in "Opera di Setra" productions; most recently in the newly composed opera "Flåklypa Tidende's opera" by Ronald Rørvik, Toni Herlofssen and Eva Holm Foosnæs with performances in 2023 and 2024.

Sivert Almås Jullumstrø, Baritone (he/him) Sivert is a freelance singer, choir conductor and singing teacher from Trondheim. He completed his bachelor's in classical singing at the NTNU Department of Music in 2019. Sivert has, among other things, been involved with Opera Trøndelag, the Opera in Kristiansund and Opera Østfold. He made his debut in 2019 in the role of Vicomte Cascada in "The Merry Widow". Since then, he has been seen in the role of Monostatos in "The Magic Flute", Rolf in "The sound of music" and Simon Snunsen in "Flåklypa - tiendes opera". Sivert received Opera Trøndelag Friends' Talent Award in 2020

Knut Erik Jensen, he/him pianist, coach, accompanist, university lecturer Knut Erik has worked closely with Skeive Stemmer, and has been a regular pianist at Operakafé in Rosendal since its inception in 2020. lives in Selbu and is a university lecturer at NTNU, Department of Music, head for the piano class at the Saturday school, Trondheim Culture School and has a rich freelance career. He has a master's degree from the conservatory in Trondheim in performing piano. He has for many years been a sought-after musician in Trøndelag, not least in opera as an accompanist and repeater, and as a chamber musician and soloist.

Since 2007, he has played close to 200 concerts in the USA, mostly as a solo artist, but also with singers and as a soloist with orchestras. In recent years, mention can be made of performing all of Grieg's romances in Seattle, USA in 7 concerts, and as a soloist in Grieg and Klaus Egge piano concerts.

For his own projects, he works a lot with Norwegian piano music, both by commissioning new works from composers and finding pieces that are not played that often. In 2013 he commissioned and premiered the piano sonata "Ruf und Nachklang" by Ståle Kleiberg, and in 2022 he was the pianist on the album Requiem, Læreren som nik ble and Trisyn by Marcus Paus, together with Knut Stiklestad. He also has a very versatile background from several genres and instruments. Last seen in own recital for the series, Sunday concert at Ringve Museum. This summer he will be in Las Vegas, with the International Opera Institute to perform with the opera Cavalleria Rusticana.

Kari Wist Holmen, she/her Kari is a trained actor from the Nordic Institute for Stage and Studio. Since 2011, she has worked freelance at institutional theaters and in the free performing arts field as an actor, director, pedagogue and producer. Together with Gunhild, Kari runs the performing arts company Holmen/Hjertaas AS. Thanks to Trondheim municipality and Torstein Erbo Gavefond for support this season.