Operahuset i Oslo - The opera house of the Norwegian capital on the shores of Oslo Fjord Bay. It is home to the Norwegian opera and the national ballet. The building's original architecture has brought it fame comparable to the Sydney Opera House.
History
The long-standing talk of building an opera house in Oslo only became practical at the very end of the 20th century. The government of Norway decided on the site, choosing the Bjorvik peninsula in the centre of the capital, in close proximity to the railway station and the port. More than two hundred architects participated in the internationally announced competition. The winner was local architectural firm Snøhetta.
The opera house was built between 2003 and 2007, making it Norway's largest construction project since the 14th century. The chosen location was previously a seabed, so archaeological excavations were carried out in parallel with the construction. It is a rare case: the real cost of the large-scale construction was more than an order of magnitude less than the sum allocated for it. Operahuset was inaugurated in 2008 in the presence of the King and dignitaries from neighbouring countries. The building has since been honoured with several prestigious architectural prizes.
Architectural solutions
Exterior appearance
According to the architects' idea, the Opera House building on the shore of the Oslo Fjord evokes an association with a ship or an iceberg. The entrance to the building is via footbridges on the side of the bay. Its waters wash the walls of the theatre like a pier.
The main feature of the structure is a massive sloping roof, descending to the shore. In modern cities it is not customary to walk on roofs: you can even be arrested for it. But on the roof of the Oslo Opera House everyone can climb up to the top for a view of the city and the bay. Moreover, in summer people sunbathe on the roof, and in winter they go snowboarding. In addition to its primary function, the rooftop has become a popular urban walking area.
Like a mosaic, the roof is assembled from 36,000 white marble slabs. In the up and down areas, the surface of the slabs is accentuated in relief. The sloping roof covers the glazed foyer of the theatre. It rests on sloping columns that do not block the view of the bay directly from the lobby.
On the rear façade of the building, solar panels have been installed to contribute to its electricity supply. Part of the architectural composition is located directly in the waters of the fjord and is not anchored in any way. She Lies is a sculpture made of stainless steel and glass panels by Monica Bonvicini. Its platform moves freely under the influence of wind and water currents, thanks to which the sculpture appears before the audience in different angles.
Interior
The foyer, which is free to enter, is flooded with sunlight streaming through 15 metre high windows. The staircase to the upper floors is camouflaged by a wavy wall of golden oak panelling.
The horseshoe-shaped main hall with excellent acoustics seats 1,364 people. The hall walls and balconies are panelled in "warm" light brown oak panelling. They deliberately contrast with the "cold" marble exterior. The armchairs are upholstered in dark red fabric. The main hall is illuminated by Norway's largest eight-tonne chandelier with a diameter of 7 metres. It has 800 LEDs, the rays of which are refracted in 5800 pendants. When switched on, the chandelier resembles the moon in the sky.
The backs of the audience seats are equipped with displays on which you can read the subtitles of the libretto in eight languages.
In addition to the main theatre, there are two auxiliary halls for 400 and 200 spectators. In the warm season, the roof, foyer and balconies of the building are sometimes used as performance spaces.
In the warm season, the theatre has two auxiliary halls for 400 and 200 spectators.
In technical terms, the theatre's stage is one of the best in the world. The 16 metre wide and 40 metre deep space is divided into 16 parts with autonomous movement in different directions. In addition to the main stage, there are two side and back stages, a 15-metre revolving mechanism and a lower tier for set preparation. Some of the technical equipment is deeper than the water level in the bay. The stage mechanisms are controlled by two hundred silent actuators - electric and hydraulic.
Behind the stage is a spacious corridor. Through it lorries can drive directly onto the stage to unload and load props and scenery. The original curtain, 23 metres long, 11 metres high and weighing half a tonne, looks like a crumpled sheet of foil. It is woven from a blend of wool, cotton and polyester.
Inside the building, there is a restaurant where you can dine by taking a typical "tourist" lunch for 400 NOK or choosing from an à la carte menu.
Repertoire
In addition to classical opera and ballet, the theatre also has modern plays, dance performances, and classical music concerts. But most tourists who have been inside the Oslo Opera House do so as part of the 50-minute tours of the building's interior, organised daily at 1pm (12pm on Friday).
Foreign travellers sign up for English-language tours on Sundays. On the other days of the week they are conducted in Norwegian. Tourists are shown the mechanisms of the stage. They can touch the futuristic curtain. In the workshops you can see the process of making scenery, and in the costume room you can see stage costumes and theatre props.
How to get there
The address is Kirsten Flagstads plass, 1. From Oslo districts, the theatre can be reached by the following public transport:
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buses #30, 31, 31E, 34, 36E, 54, 60, 105, 112, N5, N12, N30, N32, N54;
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by trams Nos. 12, 13 and 19.
In both cases, get off at the Jernbanetorget stop.
