Die Komposition einer Pippi-Langstrumpf-Oper

The composer Nils Urban Östlund presents his work with a Pippi Longstocking opera in Salzburg. There is also Swedish "Fika".

How do you start composing a Pippi Longstocking opera? And what obstacles do you encounter on the way?

The Swedish Embassy in Vienna and SWEA Austria are pleased to invite you to a conversation with Salzburg-based composer Nils Urban Östlund about his work with the world's first Pippi Longstocking opera, followed by a short musical excerpt from the piece.

Following the conversation, you will enjoy a classic Swedish “Fika” (coffee and cake).

Entry: 4:30 p.m. Start: 5:00 p.m.

The conversation and the music last about an hour.

This is what the composer Nils Urban Östlund himself says about the project:

In the spring of 2017 I was commissioned to write an opera on the theme of “Pippi Longstocking” by the Mozarteum University in Salzburg. The libretto, which I wrote myself, had to be approved by Astrid Lindgren's granddaughter in Stockholm. In November 2018 the time had come and I was able to start composing. The premiere and five further performances took place at the end of October 2019. Criticism and audience reactions were very positive. Since the beginning of February 2025, my opera has been represented in the original version with Swedish text by the sheet music publisher “Nordiska” in Copenhagen.

The trailer for the opera is available see here.

Photo from the UA on October 28, 2019. Photographer: Thorben Schumüller.