Petrichor

We hear the smell that arises when raindrops hit dry earth.

Kristine Tjøgersen composed Petrichor (2025) for Ensemble Allegria, inspired by the scent that follows rain. This characteristic smell occurs when raindrops hit dry soil and release the molecule geosmin, produced by bacteria in the ground. Humans are surprisingly sensitive to this scent, and the association with life-giving rain runs deep in our evolutionary memory.

Tjøgersen’s music is known for its sensuousness, associative richness, and structural clarity, often taking natural phenomena as its starting point. With her distinctive approach to sound and form, she creates a sonic landscape that, like petrichor, awakens something primal while stimulating the imagination.

Post-concert talk
15:00 Vinterhagen, Sentralen

After the concert, composer Kristine Tjøgersen meets musician and author Jenny Hval for a conversation in Sentralen’s Vinterhage. Hval, who has a strong interest in perfume, believes that scent, like music, can evoke memories and emotions. A smell can transport us back in time, take us to another place, or open up new identities. Together, Hval and Tjøgersen discuss what scent and sound have in common, and why the nose deserves just as much space as the ears in art.

Facts

• Petrichor comes from Greek: petra means stone, ichor refers to the golden fluid in the veins of the gods.
• Ensemble Allegria is one of Norway’s leading string ensembles, known for its virtuosity, joy of playing, and social engagement.
• The piece is conducted by Rasmus Hella Mikkelsen, one of Norway’s most promising young conductors and the upcoming assistant conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra.
• Kristine Tjøgersen is one of Norway’s most prominent composers, and the only Norwegian recipient of the prestigious Ernst von Siemens Music Prize. She is also featured at Ultima with Elja, composed together with Benedicte Maurseth.