Arrow The building in Oslo breaks the stereotype about the elitism of opera art

04 Feb, 2025
The building in Oslo breaks the stereotype about the elitism of opera art
© Oslo opera house / Erik Berg

Oslo opera house, designed by the Norwegian studio Snøhetta, quickly gained recognition around the world and became a must-see on the city’s tourist map. And although it is hard to believe, this building, opened on April 12, 2008, is not only the largest cultural facility built in Norway in 700 years, but also the first opera house in the world with the walkable roof.

The project, hailed as an icon of modern architecture, has been internationally appreciated on a number of occasions. In 2009, it received the prestigious European Mies van der Rohe Award for conceptual, social, cultural and technical excellence. The Norwegian architects have since become specialists in designing concert halls and opera theaters. Today, their impressive portfolio includes projects in Belgrade, Prague, Busan (South Korea) and Shanghai (China).

The building in Oslo breaks the stereotype about the elitism of opera art
© Oslo opera house / Ilja Hendel

Accroding to Snøhetta website, the opera house is part of Oslo’s revitalization strategy to redevelop the city’s historically industrial waterfront into an active public space. The concept was to create a place accessible not only to opera and ballet lovers. Therefore, in addition to the interior of the building, it was equally important to design a space that would attract the residents of the city. The opera house seems to “grow” out of the fjord waters thanks to its location between land and sea. The landscape was designed as a leisure area. An undisputed attraction is the walkable roof of the building. Tilted towards the water, the diagonal plaza made of light Italian marble has become a popular place for walks and admiring the panorama of the city and the bay from the rooftop.

The building in Oslo breaks the stereotype about the elitism of opera art
© Oslo opera house / Erik Berg

The horizontal building with a simple, angular form is like a chameleon. Depending on the time of day, the shape changes its function. During the day, the glass façade mirrors the water and sky. As it gets dark, the yellow lights in the foyer illuminate not only the interior spaces. The opera house, which uses natural light during the day, gives it to the surroundings at night. It brightens the path for passers-by and visitors arriving to see the shows.

 

The building in Oslo breaks the stereotype about the elitism of opera art
© Foyer of Oslo opera house / Erik Berg

What is hidden inside? The wall of the bright and spacious foyer features the installation by the famous Scandinavian artist Olafur Eliasson entitled “The Other Wall.” The illuminated structure made of perforated MDF cladding and varnished metal separates the space from the restroom and cloakroom areas. The wall on the opposite side has a wavy structure made of vertical oak slats. It separates the foyer from there are three auditoriums, including the main stage for 1,350 seats – the heart of the building, and two smaller, intimate spaces. The interior of the opera house is open to visitors, and you do not need to attend a performance to access them. During an hour-long guided tour (ticket cost NOK 100), you can also visit the backstage area and see the process of creating the costumes and scenography necessary to stage a show.

The building in Oslo breaks the stereotype about the elitism of opera art
© Oslo opera house / Erik Berg

Olafur Eliasson’s installation is not the only work of art integrated with the building. American visual artist Pae White created the textile stage curtain – a digitally woven tapestry with an image of crumpled aluminum foil. From the inside of the building you can admire the sculpture by Venice-based artist Monica Bonvicini, with the intriguing title “She Lies.” The object is anchored in the waters of the port in front of the opera house.

The building in Oslo breaks the stereotype about the elitism of opera art
© Monica Bonvicini "She Lies" / Erik Berg

The wall of the passage to the second balcony features the portrait of Kirsten Flagstad, the famous Norwegian soprano, immortalized as Isolde by Per Krohg. It is easy to explain why it is the only the paining is the opera space – Flagstad became famous not only for her outstanding interpretations of Wagnerian parts, but also for the fact that in the years 1958–1960 she served as the first director of the Norwegian National Opera.

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