Next act: The Norwegian Opera & Ballet

After three and a half hectic, exciting and highly educational years at Navico, working alongside fantastic colleagues such as Jørgen Wik-Dahl in Norway and Eric Oyler in Austin, Texas, my journey continued into an entirely different world. From maritime technology, international web solutions and digital initiatives to an institution that had already made a profound impression on both the cityscape and the emotions of people across Norway: The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet in Bjørvika.

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Having the opportunity to work at The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet as Project Manager for New Media was something truly special. The Opera House had already become a new national icon — a building that attracted people from all over the world and quickly became part of Oslo's identity. But behind the spectacular architecture and major productions lay an enormous and fascinating world of people, professional expertise, craftsmanship, logistics and passion.

 

The art itself was magical. Classical music, opera and ballet encompassed everything: drama, emotion, discipline, beauty, precision and storytelling at the highest level. Seeing how hundreds of people worked together to create just a few hours on stage was deeply fascinating. The audience saw the performance. I also had the privilege of seeing all the work behind it.

The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet was about far more than singers, dancers and conductors.

 

People worked there across an extraordinary range of professions and craft traditions, some of which many people may not even realise still exist today:

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• opera singers

• ballet dancers

• musicians and conductors

• directors and choreographers

• prompters and stage managers

• lighting designers and sound technicians

• set designers and video designers

• prop makers

• wig makers and make-up artists

• tailors and costume designers

• shoemakers

• carpenters and painters

• metalworkers and stage technicians

• lift and stage machinery operators

• administration, communications and marketing

• ticketing systems, digital solutions and audience services

 

It was like a small city within the city. A living, breathing institution filled with professional expertise, tradition and people who were passionate about their work.

For me, this was also a strong reminder of how many people are behind what the audience experiences in the hall. The audience may see the performance on stage, but behind the scenes there is a whole universe of professions, crafts, rehearsals, coordination and dedication that together create the magic. Each performance was the result of an enormous interaction between people with different talents, experiences and special skills.

 

And in the midst of this, I had the opportunity to work on how The Norwegian Opera & Ballet could also meet the audience in the digital world. The task was not only about technology, but about communicating art, experiences and accessibility in a way that respected the house's identity, history and culture. It was both inspiring, demanding and deeply meaningful to be a small part of such a large artistic community.