From yoik to sheet music: Emil Kárlsen learned a new skill for a major production 

Emil Kárlsen, the soloist and lead performer of Ovllá, shares in an interview what he has learned during the opera rehearsals. For instance, he did not know how to read sheet music before, but while working on the opera, he has learned to do so.

Typically, joiks do not have musical notation. Kárlsen has composed and transcribed all the joiks heard in the opera. In addition to traditional operatic singing and joik, a combination of the two is heard on stage. Kárlsen’s singing style is a fusion of these two elements.

– In my opinion, these two styles work very well together,” Kárlsen says.

Ovllá is not the only production where joik has leaped onto new and major stages. The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet performed the joik-ballet Láhppon/Lost in October 2025. Similarly, joik and opera were combined at the Royal Swedish Opera in the production Eatnama Váibmu (“Heart of the Earth”) in November 2025.

Kárlsen believes that joik has become better known as joikers themselves have found new arenas and stages. At the same time, the general public has become increasingly interested in Sámi culture.

Watch the full interview in the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-BEUMU-4fo