The St.Olav Festival is going on, this year with me in Mexico. I know I am missing so much, so I haven't even wanted to read the program this year. It ius better not to know. I did manage a dress rehersal though, of the opera Eystein of Nidaros. Bishop Eystein, the cathedral builder, libretto by Edvard Hoem, music by Henning Sommerro (and by this names every Norwegian knows who I am talking about.
The Nidaros Cathedral is built upon the shine of St.Olav, the great king who diad at the battle of Stiklestad 1000 years ago. The story in the opera about Eystein is set later in history, but the period was a dramatic one for Trondheim.
With the short summer nights, the opera is performed around midnight to get the light right (the inspiration for this is the Monet light show in the French cathedral of Rouen, where St.Olav was baptised). Most of the opera is performed outdoors, with actors, choir, orchestra and a fantastic light "show" underlining the story, thoughbefore the last scene the public is invited into the church for the grand finale. The maestro Torodd Wigumties it all together with braids of art. (Yes,my brother<smile> whom you have already met several times)
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Photos: from Sunday night's dress rehersal
