Oslo,
as one would expect of a capital city, has a lively and varied arts
scene, and regularly attracts internationally-known artists to its
many stages and concert halls and Norwegians are proud of their
cultural heritage.
Tickets
Tickets to virtually all performances in Oslo, from concerts to
sporting events, can be purchased at any post office. Tickets can
also be ordered from Billett
Service (telephone number: 81 53 31 33, website: www.billettservice.no
or www.ticketmaster.no),
to be picked up at the post office later or can be mailed to addresses
abroad.
Music
The Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
presents 2 concerts weekly (except during July and in the first
part of August) in the Konserthuset, Munkedamsveien (telephone number:
23 11 31 00), in the centre of the city.
The
Norwegian Opera, Storgaten 23 (telephone number: 23 31 50 00,
bookings 81 54 44 88), also in the centre of town, offers daily
performances of operas and ballets, from the beginning of September
through to May.
The Radio Orchestra and
the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra present concert
series in various venues in the city, as does the Oslo
Sinfonietta (telephone number: 22 42 70 95), which has been
dedicated to presenting contemporary music since 1985.
The old Aula of the University of Oslo, Karl Johansgate
(telephone number: 22 85 95 55), has excellent acoustics, making
it one of the most sought after venues for musical events. Popular
also is Gamle Logen, Grev Wedels
Plass (telephone number: 22 33 44 70), composer Edvard Grieg’s
concert hall, now restored to its original glory.
The
State Academy of Music, Gydas Vei (telephone number: 23 36 70
00), presents the most extensive programme of concerts in Oslo,
most of which are free, although some are not open to the public.
The Oslo Cathedral Choir sings both contemporary and traditional
pieces, giving occasional concert performances.
Theatre
Information about Norwegian theatre can be found at www.teaternett.no.
The ornate, hundred-year-old National
Theatre of Oslo, Stortings plass 15 (telephone number: 22 00
14 00), presents mainly Norwegian plays. The International
Ibsen Stage Festival takes place here every other year.
The National Theatre has 2 stages in this historic building and
another in the Torshovteatret, Vogts gate 64, in
the east of Oslo, where the company presents more experimental work.
The other major company in Oslo is the Norwegian
Theatre, Kristian IV’s Gate 8 (telephone number: 22 42
43 44), which performs in the second form of the Norwegian language,
Nynorsk (new Norwegian).
Oslo
Nye Teater, Rosenkrantzgate (telephone number: 22 34 86 80),
presents a variety of genres on its 4 stages, Hovedscenen, Centralteatret,
Cafescenen and Dukketeatret (puppet theatre).
Dance
In common with much of central Europe, Norway has a strong tradition
of folk dance, featuring mazurkas and polkas.
International and Norwegian performers regularly appear at Dansens
Hus, Kristian IVs Gate (telephone number: 81 53 31 33).
During the summer there are twice weekly performances of folk dancing
at the Konserthuset, (see Music). On Tuesday, Wednesday,
Friday and Saturday in July and August, a traditional ‘Norwegian
Evening’ including folk dance, is staged at the Norsk
Folkemuseum, on Bygdøy.
The Norwegian National
Ballet performs at home, at the Norwegian Opera, Storgaten 23
(telephone number: 23 31 50 00, bookings 81 54 44 88), and tours
extensively, featuring top Norwegian dancers and guest performers
from overseas. International and Norwegian performers regularly
appear at Dansens Hus.
Film
Information about what’s on in Oslo cinemas can be
found at www.oslokino.no.
There are numerous cinemas in central Oslo including the Colosseum,
Frdidtjof Nansens vei, the Eldorado, Torggata 9,
and Vika Kino, Ruseløkkveien.
The central booking line for all the mainstream cinemas is 82 03
00 00. Films in Norway are shown in the original language with subtitles,
the exception being children’s films, which are usually overdubbed.
Alternative and classic films are shown at Norsk Filminstitutt,
Dronningens gate 16 (telephone number: 22 47 45 00).
Literary
Notes
Literature thrives in Norway, although relatively little of it has
been translated into the English language.
Among the best known Norwegian writers who lived and worked in Oslo
are Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, who was
the first Norwegian writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature
in 1903.
His great friend and rival, Henrik Ibsen, never
received that honour, although posterity has been kinder to him.
Like Bjørnson, he was not a native of Oslo but moved there
in 1850, writing 2 plays, Catilina, a tragedy,
and The Burial Mound, in that first year. He had
hopes of studying to become a doctor, however, after failing the
university entrance examinations during 1851, Ibsen moved to Bergen
to work in a small theatre. In 1857, he was back as director of
the new Norwegian (Norske) Theatre and then later
of the Christiania Theatre. In 1864, Ibsen received
an award for foreign travel from the government and travelled abroad
for the next 27 years, returning to Norway only for quick visits.
In the 1870s, he worked with composer Edward Grieg
on the premiere of Peer Gynt (1867). He returned
permanently to Norway in 1891 and died in Oslo on 23rd May 1906.
Knut Hamsun was the second Norwegian
writer to receive the Nobel Prize, in 1920. Originally
from the Central Valley, he moved to Oslo during 1878, where he
lived in poverty for a while, before going off to wander the United
States of America. His later life was shadowed by his support of
the Nazis. Two of his most famous novels are Hunger (1890)
and Growth of the Soil (1917).
In contrast, Sigrid Undset, who grew up in Oslo
and wrote her early novels there, was a member of the resistance
and an outspoken critic of the Nazi regime. Her work was banned
by the Nazis and she was forced to flee in exile to America, until
war was over. She was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature
in 1928. Her most famous book is Kristin Lavransdatter
(1920-1922), a historical novel set in Norway in the 14th
century.
The best known contemporary writer is Jostein Gaarder,
who received the Norwegian Literary Critics award in 1990 for The
Solitaire Mystery. His 1991 novel, Sophie’s
World, about the history of philosophy, has been translated
into 40 languages and made into a film. |
