The new opera house in Oslo is the most prestigious project in Norway since work on Nidaros Cathedral started in Trondheim around 1070.
This is the opinion of Frode Bye, acoustics engineer with COWI Norway, who in his capacity as project manager has been involved in advising on the electro-acoustic conditions in the opera house, which was opened on 12 April 2008.
This was the biggest acoustic/AV commission to date for COWI, who are among Scandinavia’s leading consultants in the field of electro-acoustics: indeed its list of references includes electro-acoustic consultancy in respect of Nidaros Cathedral.
The commission, which began at the ground breaking in 2001, includes designing the whole range of sound and AV systems for the opera house, from TV communication between stage technicians to sound systems in the auditoria and recording facilities for television stations.
The client is Statsbygg on behalf of Norway’s Ministry of Cultural and Ecclesiastical Affairs.
According to Frode Bye, the 38,500-square metre opera house – designed by the Norwegian architects Snøhetta – being the newest, is one of the most modern in the world. Its many specialist services include top-of-the-range electro-acoustic technology.
"The opera house has the world’s largest wireless digital production communication system, of immense benefit to all the backstage production crews. We also use the TTA system which transmits voices via loudspeakers so that it sounds as if it comes directly from the performer, wherever he or she may be in the auditorium," says Frode Bye.
The Norwegian TTA system only has counterparts in five other venues in the world, one of them being the new Royal Danish Playhouse.
The waterfront opera house comprises several levels. One of the defining features is that the public can step onto the roof from the main entrance and walk up the gentle incline of the roof to the 55-metre tall fly tower.
The building houses three stages with seating for 2,000 in total and has cost 526 million euros.
The new occupants of the opera house – The Norwegian Opera & Ballet Company – moved in at the beginning of the year.
By Kathrine Schmeichel, kats@cowi.dkPublished: 23.04.2008
COWI – acting as sub-consultants to the consulting consortium RREH which has had the technical consultancy portfolio – carried out all the tasks related to electro-acoustics: advising on the installation of sound and AV systems of all kinds, from internal communication systems and orchestra sound studio to PA systems, surtext facilities and surround sound in the auditoria.
COWI also provided consultancy services on the fire-proofing and telephony.
The Norwegian Parliament decided in 1999 to build a new opera house, which was duly opened at an inaugural gala on 12 April 2008.
Source: Statsbygg.no & operaen.dk