A glistening iceberg of an opera house
It was to be one of the iconic modern buildings of Europe, on par with the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Dutch embassy in Berlin and Palace of the Arts in Valencia. And that is exactly what happened. The new accommodation for Den Norske Opera & Ballett appears to float in the Oslo Fjord like a glistening iceberg. It’s also the only opera house in the world where you can stand on the roof.
Like drift ice in the Oslo Fjord
The construction of the Opera House was calculated to have cost 1,000 euros per resident – an exorbitant amount in a time of crisis in the eyes of many Oslo residents. But now that the building designed by architectural firm Snøhetta is in place, the protests have faded and most locals are filled with pride. This topsy-turvy building of glass, treated aluminium, white marble and green granite appears like a glistening iceberg floating in the water. That image is most clear during the winter, when the sloping surfaces are covered with snow and the opera ‘iceberg’ blends into the drift ice in the Oslo Fjord. The bizarre exterior may be the most unique aspect of the building, but no expenses were spared for the interior either. Undulating surfaces of blond oak strips cover the foyer and halls, the wardrobe is covered in geometrical perforated glass and the enormous stage curtain in the main hall – with 1,350 seats – appears to be made out of crumpled aluminium foil. The foyer and roof are open to all visitors. Guided tours are offered in English on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and on Sunday at 1:00 pm and Saturday at noon.
A night at the opera
This exquisite building is a popular destination for a night out. Around 300 performances are held each year. It is the home base of the Den Norske Opera & Ballett, whose past performances include Mozart’s ‘Don Giovanni’ and Tchaikovsky’s ‘Swan Lake’. Concerts by renowned symphony orchestras like the Berliner Philharmoniker and Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest have also performed here. Every performance in the main hall includes a free introduction presentation. Tickets vary from 12 euros for standing room to 120 euros for front row seats and can be purchased at the ticket window or online at www.operaen.no .
Related articles
Nature
The great outdoors beckons from all sides when you're in Oslo: from the waterside, the Oslo Fjord is filled with shady islands perfect for island hopping while, from the inland side, the city borders on the Oslomarka. This wooded area 1,700 square kilometres in size – with many kilometres of marked trails through cool valleys, across green hills and past red houses on blue lakes – is only 15 minutes from the city centre.
Arts & Culture
Even though Oslo is a small city with a population of only 600,000 people, it contains a lot of art; not only are there dozens of galleries, but also around 50 museums and exhibitions varying from Edvard Munch to Viking ships and the Nobel Peace Prize. However, modern art enthusiasts need not be disappointed either: with the opening of the Astrup Fearnley Museum, Oslo now boasts yet another top attraction.
Discover other destinations in Europe
*The displayed prices are for one adult. All amounts are in THB. Taxes and surcharges are included. No booking fee is applicable, but a payment surcharge may apply. Prices shown may vary depending on fare availability.
The weather forecast information is provided by World Weather Online. Air France-KLM is not responsible for the reliability of this data.