Join us on an operatic journey through 20 years as we celebrate the art of opera together, featuring highlights from Bergen National Opera’s history since its founding in 2006, right up to a critically acclaimed work from our own time!

Opera Gala
In this grand Opera Gala, tomorrow’s opera stars — former participants of Opera by the Fjord — take us on a journey through our history, performing some of its most memorable highlights. And of course, they will not be doing it alone. An important part of this anniversary celebration is also to honor our successful collaboration with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and the Edvard Grieg Choirs.

Among the musical highlights, audiences will experience excerpts from Tosca, The Marriage of Figaro, Rusalka, and Carmen.

Expect a festive atmosphere, beautiful arias, and majestic choral masterpieces!

WRITTEN ON SKIN
Inspired by a macabre medieval tale from southern France, composer George Benjamin and playwright Martin Crimp has created a harrowing opera about a man in power—and what happens when that power is challenged.

A young artist is commissioned to immortalise a family’s life and deeds in an illuminated book. The husband rules his household and those around him with cold authority, but the young artist’s presence disrupts the balance, and the wife embarks on a passionate affair with him. She sets them all on a path to destruction when she demands that he depict their love in one of the book’s illustrations. The husband—ironically named The Protector—takes cruel revenge.

George Benjamin composed Written on Skin for the Aix-en-Provence Festival in 2012. Since then, the opera has been performed worldwide and hailed as a modern masterpiece. With music of explosive intensity and sensuality, Benjamin, together with Martin Crimp’s strikingly poetic libretto, creates a mesmerising and distinctive universe.

Acclaimed British director Katie Mitchell stages this celebrated production, with Reumert Award-winning soprano Gisela Stille performing the role of Agnès. Countertenor Morten Grove Frandsen joins the cast as The Boy.

Written on Skin is performed in English with English and Norwegian surtitles.

In collaboration with Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Dutch National Opera, Opéra National du Capitole de Toulouse, and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London.

Recommended for ages 15 and up.