NOTHING PERSONAL Comes to Den Norske Opera in October
Performances will run 12 October–2 November.
POPULAR
Alan Lucien Øyen: Nothing Personal comes to Den Norske Opera next month. Performances will run 12 October–2 November.
Cinematic dance theatre
It becomes imaginative and dystopian when Alan Lucien Øyen again fuses dance and theater into striking stage images. Cinematic is a word that is often used to describe Øyen's art, and this time it is the Oscar-winning film composer Alexandre Desplat who composes the music and Solrey who conducts the Opera Orchestra.
Fates in a desert of wood
In Alan Øyen fashion, it changes from large tableaus until we are suddenly close to a realistic world, where hidden spaces and human destinies come to light. Those we meet are struggling to relate to the present.
- The requirements for being human are becoming stricter: We must "do", we must "be", and it must go quickly, be fantastic and preferably an inspiration for everyone else. The dystopias of the future are about to become reality, says Øyen.
On stage, the National Ballet's dancers and actors are in a solid wooden landscape , with scenographer Åsmund Færavaag's clear signature.
Can we make it happen?
There were rumors of a very special stage experience after the premiere of The Hamlet Complex Redux - and suddenly there wasn't a ticket to buy. And it's not just in Norway that it's being talked about. There were both boos and cheers after Øyen's new, all-evening performance Cri de cœur for the prestigious ballet at the Paris Opera.
|
RELATED STORIES - Norway
The iconic red curls and indomitable spirit of little orphan Annie once again graced the Norwegian stage in a heart-warming production that captured the essence of optimism and resilience. The latest rendition of 'Annie' at the Folketeatret proved to be a delightful and nostalgic journey for both long-time fans and newcomers to this classic musical. From the moment the overture started it was obvious we were getting a classic yet, fresh take. The solo trumpet playing the main theme before the full orchestra came in, all the while an animated movie was shown where we get the whole journey from Oslo the audience was transported to the world of 1930s New York City. The curtain lifted to reveal the dreary, massive yet charming orphanage set. The attention to detail in the set design by Petr Hlousek, from the creaky wooden floors to the vintage props, created a rich and immersive backdrop for the unfolding tale. The use of LED projection gave the each scene an extra level of theatrical magic.
For those who revel in the nightlife, take note that the Chateau Neuf has undergone a lavish transformation into a pleasure palace where indulgence reigns without the consequences of hangovers. It is within this opulent setting that the exhilarating 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical' premiered on the 30th of August, showering the audience with glittering fragments reminiscent of every pop hit ever written.
In the English production I saw ‘Frozen’ it was an overwhelming spectacle with more heart, depth and darkness than the film. But in the Norwegian version I sadly felt the huge focus on the fact that the tale is grounded in several Nordic legacies got center stage, while the drama and more importantly the heart of the show got lost in the snow.
When it was announced that the next big production at Christiania theater would be a play with the nifty title 'Et dukkehjem 2 (A Doll's House, Part 2)' I didn't know what to think. I had next to no knowledge of the piece, other than it was a Broadway play which ran during the 2017 season. Was it a sequel to Ibsen's play? A Drama? A comedy? A 'social realism' post-feminist work examining the rules of society and gender? Well, as it turns out it's all those things... and more!
Videos
Recommended For You
