Next Act: The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet

After three and a half hectic, exciting, and educational years at Navico, working alongside fantastic colleagues such as Jørgen Wik-Dahl in Norway and Eric Oyler in Austin, Texas, the journey continued into an entirely different world. From maritime technologies, international online solutions, and digital initiatives to a house that had already made a profound impact 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 around the world and quickly became part of Oslo’s identity. But behind the spectacular architecture and major productions was also 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 opportunity to see all the work behind it.

 

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

People worked here across an extraordinary range of professions and craft traditions that many may not even realize still exist today:
 

• 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 makeup 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 house filled with professional expertise, tradition, and people who were deeply passionate about their work.

For me, this was also a powerful reminder of just how many people are behind what the audience experiences in the auditorium. The audience may see the performance on stage, but behind the curtain lies an entire universe of professional expertise, craftsmanship, rehearsals, coordination, and dedication that together create the magic. Every performance was the result of extraordinary collaboration among people with different talents, experiences, and specialized expertise.

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And in the midst of all this, I had the opportunity to work on how the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet could engage with audiences in the digital world as well. The task was not simply about technology, but about communicating art, experiences, and accessibility in a way that respected the institution’s identity, history, and culture. It was inspiring, challenging, and deeply meaningful to be a small part of such a remarkable artistic community.