The main 1350-seat auditorium is a classic horseshoe-shaped opera theatre with a high-level ceiling designed to strict acoustic requirements and is capable of catering for the whole range of classic and modern opera and ballet, as well as concerts and musicals. Among the other 1100 rooms are a smaller 400-seat auditorium and a 200-seat rehearsal space.
The Oslo Opera House has one of the most modern and technologically advanced opera stages in the world comprising 16 individual elements that can be elevated, angled, or rotated so that landscapes can be constructed on the stage. Covering a large surface area, in addition to the main stage (16x16 m), there are side stages, back stages and an understage allowing nine metre high scenery sets to be prepared under the main stage and elevated during performances.
Over 300 Selecon Performance Lighting luminaires were specified to service the performance spaces ranging from short to medium throw Acclaim PCs and Rama High Performance Fresnels and PCs to long throw Arena High Performance Fresnels and 1000W Lui 4-way Cycs and Groundrows to 1250W Aurora 4-way pole operated Cycs and standard Groundrow units; all supplied by local Selecon dealer, Elpag AS.
Renowned architecture firm Sn°hetta designed the building after winning an international contest in 2000 and it was built by Statsbygg, a government-run property owner. The theatre designers were the London-based firm Theatre Projects Consultants, the acoustic designers were BrekkeStrandArup - a joint venture between local consultant Brekke Strand Akustikk and international acousticians Arup Acoustics.
(Jim Evans)
