Three of Ella Bergquist-Swanson's granddaughters came to Sweden on midsummer 2023. Six Bergqvist/Olpers second cousins were hosting. The day turned out to be a mini family reunion.
Visit to Norra Bäckfallet on Midsummer Eve
A visit to Karen, Lisa and Kristin's grandmother's birthplace, the croft Norra Bäckfallet was the first item of the days schedule. The croft was also the birthplace of Olof August Bergquist, the grandfather to the Bergqvist/Olpers cousins. For some of us it was the first visit to Norra Bäckfallet.
From left: Olov Bergqvist and his wife Lena Skoglund; Lisa Huling*; Anneka Bergqvist; Kristin Finney*; Karen Talley*; Maria Bergqvist; Magnus Bergqvist; Karin Norling** ( * Born Swanson; ** Born Olpers ). The owner today, Olle Sjöberg, had given us permission to enter the croft. With regards that it was built in the end of the 1800's the frame of the house turned out to be very good.
After the visit to Norra Bäckfallet we went to Hembygdsgården Ransäter to take part in the local celebration. The presentation by the native place association is: Midsummer is traditionally celebrated with a procession and the raising of the midsummer pole, followed by song and dance, the premiere of the song-loving play Värmlänningar in the open-air stage Gropa, which this year is being played for the 70th time! This year we have visitors from our sister city Lindsborg. [ Hembygdsgården (swe) ]
Swedish fika
At the fika Maria's husband Jan Persson and her friend Lena Håkansson joined up (middle). We gathered around a table with our coffee baskets. When everyone had picked up theirs, the table was filled with different contributions: coffee, tea, sandwiches, pizza slices, muffins, watermelon slices. A good 11 o'clock Swedish fika! Photo: KT.
Everyone waving
The Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers
An American folk dance group from Munkfor's sister city Lindsborg in Kansas celebrated Midsummer in Ransäter on Midsummer Eve. They were on a tour in Sweden and chose Ransäter for this day Lindsborg sticker.
Campbell Gaskill and Brenna Anderson from Munkfor's sister city Lindsborg in Kansas, USA, are looking forward to the "little frogs". Photo: Anton Eriksson. Below interview by Marie Trygg, Swedish Radio P4 Värmland (Swedish/English).
The Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers performed at Ransäters Hembygdsgård before sharing in the raising of the midsummer pole and dancing with the locals.
Lisa, Lena, Kristin and Karen in the dancing ring to the song "Här dansar herr gurka" (Here Mr. Cucumber dances). Other dances were: "Små grodorna" (The little frogs) and "Små grisarna" (The little pigs), "Karusellen" (The carousel), "Prästens lilla kråka" (The priest's little crow), "Tre små gummor" (Tree small gammers), "Vi äro musikanter" (We are musicians), "Raketen" (The rocket). Two photos:
Dancing 1Dancing 2
Värmlänningarna
Värmlänningarna was written in 1846, has been played since 1954 and still fascinates a large audience.
This year's production of Värmlänningarna at Ransäter's hembygdsgård was the 70th consecutive performance. The Wermland Opera singers performed many excellent vocal numbers.
Lars Bergqvist and Annika Wettberg joined our group to see Värmlänningarna. Lars recorded Värmlandsvisan, the closing song of the end scene, where Erik (Ole Aleksander Bang) and Anna (Tova Hollender) finally where allowed to be married. Lars' video is included above.
Newspaper reviews
Both major provincial newspapers published a review of the premiere performance. It might be interesting to read to compare with your experience.
[ NWT ArticleNote1)
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[ VF Article
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Svensk text
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English translation ].
Lysande nya inslag – men Wretlings folklustspel har ett lite snöpligt problem [VF]
Text: Ingeborg Paulsrud
Kärleksparet Anna (Tova Hollender) och Erik (Ole Aleksander Bang) flankeras av Pigan Stina (Sofia Wretling) och Drängen Pär (Jakob Hultcrantz Hansson). Foto: Sigurd Wapelhorst
Större dansnummer och mer fysisk komik lyfter årets folklustspel i Gropa. ”Men efter att ha hängt med i alla historiens vändningar känns det lite snöpligt när både Erik och Annas livräddning, den bittra familjefejden och Annas galenskap löser sig under samma minut”, skriver Ingeborg Paulsrud.
Det är ett stort år för det årliga sommarspelet ”Värmlänningarna”. Föreställningen i Gropa fyller 70 år och regissören Olof Wretling har styrt kalaset i tio av dem. Den vackra scenmiljön fylls av solhattar, folkdräkter och en förväntansfull premiärpublik.
I år är det ett större fokus på folkdansen än det varit förut, och det är en lysande idé. Inte bara under de stora dansnumren utan även inbäddade i dialogen ser vi små glimtar av dans och skutt. Skådespelarna får till tajmingen mellan prat och dans på ett sätt som gör föreställningen lite extra underhållande. Dessutom finns det en hel del fysisk komik att se, och den roligaste utövaren är utan tvekan Otto Wretling, som trots sin unga ålder gör träffsäkra efterapningar av de andra skådespelarna.
Otto Wretling utgör en perfekt sidekick till Fredrik Sjöstedts Löpar-Nisse. Foto: Sigurd Wapelhorst
Hans roll Spring-Olle är den omtyckta Löpar-Nisses sidekick, och här får nog Löpar-Nisse vara på alerten så att den busiga pojken inte snor hela showen utan håller sig till att stjäla kanelbullar.
I år spelas den förälskade Anna av nytillskottet Tova Hollender från Borås. Hon gör en fin rolltolkning och harmonierar härligt med veteranen Ole Alexander Bang som spelar kärleken Erik. En av de artistiska höjdpunkterna är duetten mellan Hollender och Maria Mayer i rollen som mor Annika. Inför det hjärtskärande numret där modern förstår att dottern blivit galen av hjärtesorg sitter ingen oberörd.
Mamsell Lotta (Ida On), Anna (Tova Hollender) och Mamsell Ellen (Mary Wretling) Foto: Sigurd Wapelhorst
Bang å sin sida, som vi i vanliga fall kan uppleva på Wermlandsoperan, gör en bra insats när han vrider om den maffiga operarösten till att sjunga visor och kärleksförklaringar uti bygden. Tillsammans är årets Erik och Anna en trovärdig duo. Hans stadiga toner och hennes klingande röst får en att tro på den värmländska sagan som är farligt nära att gå riktigt illa.
Men efter att ha hängt med i alla historiens vändningar känns det lite snöpligt när både Erik och Annas livräddning, den bittra familjefejden och Annas galenskap löser sig under samma minut. Nu kanske jag begår hädelse här, men jag hade mycket hellre tagit speltiden från den långdragna ”Napoleon Dundrapart”-historien på slutet och använt den tiden till en mer djupgående upplösning av huvudintrigen.
Musiken som ackompanjerar föreställningen utförs av både folkmusiker och personal från Wermlandsoperan. Tillsammans utgör de en stark ryggrad för den folkkära sagan. Både musiken och ljudeffekterna speglar stämning och rörelser på scenen. Det fiolkompade försöket av drängen Per att servera ett helt bröllop i en omgång (”jag tänker inte gå två gånger”-mentaliteten) påminner nästan om Charlie Chaplins stumfilmskomik.
Allt som allt är det en lyckad premiär. De utökade dansnumren och ”rikets högsta hallingspark” är ett härligt tillskott. Det är bara att hoppas på minst 70 år till.
······· Recensionen är återgiven här med tillstånd av artikelförfattaren, fotografen och Värmlands Folkblad.
Brilliant new features - but Wretling's folk burlesque has a minor disappointing problem [VF]
Text: Ingeborg Paulsrud (Mainly translated with Google Translate)
The love couple Anna (Tova Hollender) and Erik (Ole Aleksander Bang) are flanked by the maid Stina (Sofia Wretling) and the boy Pär (Jakob Hultcrantz Hansson). Photo: Sigurd Wapelhorst
Bigger dance numbers and more physical comedy lift this year's folk fun game in Gropa. "But after following all the twists and turns of the story, it feels a little sloppy when both Erik and Anna's life saving, the bitter family feud and Anna's madness are resolved in the same minute," writes Ingeborg Paulsrud.
It's a big year for the annual summer game "Värmlänningarna". The performance in Gropa turns 70 and director Olof Wretling has directed the party for ten of them. The beautiful stage environment is filled with sun hats, folk costumes and an expectant premiere audience.
This year there is a greater focus on folk dance than there has been before, and it is a brilliant idea. Not only during the big dance numbers but also embedded in the dialogue we see small glimpses of dancing and shooting. The actors manage the timing between talking and dancing in a way that makes the performance a little extra entertaining. In addition, there is a great deal of physical comedy to be seen, and the funniest performer is undoubtedly Otto Wretling, who despite his young age does spot-on impersonations of the other actors.
Otto Wretling is a perfect sidekick to Fredrik Sjöstedt's Löpar-Nisse. Photo: Sigurd Wapelhorst
His role Spring-Olle is the popular Löpar-Nisse's sidekick, and here Löpar-Nisse must be on the alert so that the mischievous boy doesn't snort the whole show but sticks to stealing cinnamon buns.
This year, Anna in love is played by new addition Tova Hollender from Borås. She does a fine role interpretation and harmonizes beautifully with the veteran Ole Alexander Bang who plays the love interest Erik. One of the artistic highlights is the duet between Hollender and Maria Mayer in the role of mother Annika. In front of the heartbreaking number where the mother realizes that the daughter has gone mad with heartbreak, no one sits unmoved.
Mamsell Lotta (Ida On), Anna (Tova Hollender) and Mamsell Ellen (Mary Wretling) Photo: Sigurd Wapelhorst
Bang, for his part, who we can usually experience at the Wermland Opera, does a good job when he turns the mammoth operatic voice into singing songs and declarations of love in the countryside. Together, this year's Erik and Anna are a credible duo. His steady tones and her ringing voice make one believe in the Värmland saga that is dangerously close to going really bad.
But after following all the twists and turns of the story, it feels a bit rushed when both Erik and Anna's life saving, the bitter family feud and Anna's madness are resolved in the same minute. Now, I may be committing blasphemy here, but I would have much rather taken the running time from the drawn-out "Napoleon Dundrapart" 2) story at the end and used that time for a more in-depth resolution of the main plot.
The music that accompanies the performance is performed by both folk musicians and staff from the Wermlandsoper. Together, they form a strong backbone for the popular fairy tale. Both the music and the sound effects reflect the mood and movements on stage. The fiddler's attempt by Per to serve an entire wedding in one round (the "I'm not going to go twice" mentality) is almost reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin's silent film comedy.
All in all, it's a successful premiere. The extended dance numbers and "the country's highest indoor park" are a wonderful addition. We can only hope for at least another 70 years.
······· The review is reproduced here with the permission of the article author, the photographer and Värmlands Folkblad.
Visit at Olov and Lena's summer cottage in Brevik
The day ended with a midsummer dinner at Olov and Lena's summer cottage in Breviksbyn. Photo: AB.
On midsummer day, before lunch, we visited Slöjdens hus (House of Handicrafts) at Alster's manor, Gustaf Fröding's memorial house. We saw the exhibition of Rya rugs from the Länshemslöjdsföreningen's collections. There is also a craft shop with fine handicrafts from Värmland craftsmen. After this we said goodbye to Lisa, Karen and Kristin who continued their Swedish visit by going to Visby on Gotland. Photo: AB.
Descendants
Jonas and Maria raised eleven children in the croft Norra Bäckfallet between 1874 and 1894. Three of them died young. Link to the descendancy chart emanating from Jonas Larsson Bergquist & Maria Kajsa Olsdotter (pdf) with the descendants that can be displayed publicly according to the law GDPR (European Union). The full version with all descendants can be obtained by family members by contacting Olov Bergqvist. E-mail, see below. The page about Norra Bäckfallet (in Swedish) contains a few old photos and links to some of Jonas' and Maria's children.
Pilgrimage
Many in the family have visited Norra Bäckfallet - a little like a pilgrimage. In 1929, Ivar and Ella Swanson visited the homeland after they had married in the spring. They went to Kärne [ Map | Visit ] and probably also Bäckfallet. After the
Hedin family reunion at Ransäter 2005, we were some cousins who went up to Bäckfallet on our way to Sunne. There we had an after-meet in the Sɑː'ɑl° at Berg i Brårud (° salSW ≈ denEN). 17 June 2017 Karen and Mike Talley visited Norra Bäckfallet.
How to get there? See [
Excerpt Ransäter-Bäckfallet | Direct link ]. The map is "Kils härad, n" from 1888. Use the zoom button, find Ransäter, then follow the road up to Bäckfallet.
If you have more or other information about
Bäckfallet
you are most welcome to get in touch, see contact below.
Svensk text
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English translation ].
Lysande nya inslag – men Wretlings folklustspel har ett lite snöpligt problem [VF]
Brilliant new features - but Wretling's folk burlesque has a minor disappointing problem [VF]
