Harald V, King of Norway, has opened a white marble opera house on the shore of the Oslo Fjord in the heart of the Norwegian capital. The proposal to construct the building was approved by the Norwegian parliament in 1999.
From the outside, the Opera House has a sloping stone roof made up of 36,000 fitted pieces which appear to rise from the waters of the fjord shore. On the inside, the 1000-room building is lined with crafted woodwork and decorated with about $12 million of art.
Norway.org.uk reports that the building area of the Opera House is 38,500 square meters, which consists of more than 100 rooms.
The chandelier will comprise 17,000 glass units and hang approximately 16 metres above the floor. It will also function as an acoustic reflector. The main hall and the rest of the building will contain several other impressive features. Theatre chairs worth a total of NOK 10,4 million (EUR 1,4 million) are on their way from Italy, and workers from the company Naturstein are currently mounting 36,000 marble plates on the building.
According to BBC News, the Opera House is the largest cultural center built in Norway for the past 700 years.
The Norwegian parliament’s decision to approve its construction in 1999 ended more than 120 years of debate and waiting for a national opera house. From the outside, the most striking feature is the sloping stone roof, made up of 36,000 fitted pieces, which seems to rise from the water of the fjord.
King Harald V is quoted speaking about the importance of this Opera House for future generations.
“Innermost in the Oslo Fjord, the opera house rises as a new and monumental landmark. This house for many generations to come will be filled with music, dance and song.”
Photo:© ergates
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