Around the world, opera increases its popularity by the minute and it seems as if new operahouses are being everywhere. The latest example is Oslo’s New National Opera House, which was inaugurated on April 12 2008.
The new opera is situated in the Bjorvika harbour area, where its sloping roof rises from the Oslo Fjord itself, and parts of the stage are 16 meters below sea level. The building is drawn by the young wonderboys in Norwegian architecture, Snøhetta, who have won international acclaim for their new national library in Alexandria, Egypt.
The New National Opera House has an impressive opening program, which in the first year offers guest appearences from i.e. the Berliner Philharmonics and Simon Rattle, Cecilia Bartoli, Daniel Barenboim and Lorin Maazel.
Apart from the opera house, Oslo will get another new landmark in 2010, when the city’s new ski jumping hill ‘Holmenkollen Lighthouse’ is expected to be finished.