Wolpertinger — kristinetjogersen.no

Wolpertinger (2026)
For orchestra (20’)

WP by WDR Symphony Orchestra 29.05.26 conducted by Marie Jacquot at Kölnerphilharmonie, DE.
Norwegian premiere with Oslo Philharmonic conducted by Ilan Volkov 10.09.26

Kristine Tjøgersen · Wolpertinger - WDR Sinfonieorchester

Kristine Tjøgersen (b.1982) is often inspired by nature in her compositions, and she asks herself the question: How do we view nature today, and how can I, as a composer, convey a natural and sensory experience through music?

Wolpertinger is a mythical creature that is said to inhabit the alpine forests of southern Germany. It has a body that consists of various animal parts - usually wings, antlers, a tail and fangs; all attached to the body of a small mammal. In many parts of the world there are descriptions of similar creatures, such as the Rasselbock in the Thuringian Forest, the Dilldapp in the Alemannic region, the Austrian Raurakl, the American Jackalope, and the Swedish Skvader.

In this work I have transformed the orchestra into a completely new sound creature, inspired by the taxidermists who created the myth of the Wolpertinger. Sounds from different animals, such as koala bear, African fish owl, elephant, wild boar, skunk, flying fox, Tasmanian devil and hummingbird are put together to form a new existence in the orchestral format.

I believe my openness to the unexpected is an important driving force. I am committed to embracing the strange, the beautiful, and the surprising. Precisely what can be perceived as “strange” can often contain its own form of beauty and value.

Humor, precision, beauty, the grotesque, wildness and rhythmic drive are words that can describe this work. The work also becomes an image of the human need for imagination and reverie, and I want to place the audience in a magical forest where there is room for both the bizarre and the beautiful.

The work is a co-commission between WDR Symphony Orchestra, Ultima Contemporary Music Festival, Oslo Philharmonic, and Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra