#6 Floating Ice Floe versus Tree Trunk

Oslo Opera House x Jones Birthday

This weekend we went on a tour through the Oslo Opera House as part of a present for Jonas' 21st Birthday the week before. The tour started at noon and our English speaking Finnish guide told us about the initial decision making process on where and when to built a new opera house. 

Did you know, the Oslo Opera House is the only dedicated opera house in Norway? - Now you do!

We continued up the stairs inside the various corridors and floors leading up to the actual opera hall.

From the outside, the opera house looks like, and was deliberately designed to look like, a floating ice floe lying in the Oslo harbor. However, on the inside, the ice meets natural wood. The natural wood part, as I've learnt, is supposed to represent a tree trunk. The outside texture resembles the bark of a tree, while the corridors remind me of those "life rings" leading to the very inside of the trunk, the opera hall. 

The architects of the opera house wanted to create a totally different atmosphere when entering the opera house - I'd say they succeeded! 

Another thing worth mentioning is how various different designers were incorporated in the design and interior of the opera. The white/green wall by the wardrobe and bathrooms for example, is supposed to resemble ice crystals and was designed by Olafur Eliasson from Iceland. The aluminium foil styled curtain in the main hall was designed by Pae White, based in LA. 

Fortunately, we were also allowed to explore, with close supervision of course, the backstage area of the opera house. We were not allowed to take photos though, sorry. 

The backstage area is massive and incorporated 3 ballet schools, dance studios, the orchestra rehearsal rooms and wardrobes for all significant contributors of a performance, as well as the mask, hair, makeup, scenery and costume design studios. As I've learnt, scenery and costumes are started to be developed around 9 months prior to the performance of a new piece. 

Afterwards, as the title already states, we went to the second part of Jonas' birthday present: Pizza. 

While pizza might be a cheap and easy option for dinner or lunch in Germany, it's a special occasion kind of food in Norway. Perfect as a birthday gift ;)

After all the vegetables and pasta we've been eating the past month, it was amazing to eat some prawns as part of my pizza toppings. Mhh.