National Opera brings its launch event to audiences nationwide

The new National Opera’s launch event in Skálholt brought together the South Iceland Symphony Orchestra and singers from the region and northern Iceland, according to a guest article published by mbl.is.

The event, titled “Under the Same Star,” is introducing the new opera company to audiences around the country. Similar events have been held in Akureyri, Eskifjörður and Hljómahöll in Keflavík. The final performance is scheduled for the National Theatre in Reykjavík on November 15.

Actors Örn Árnason and Ólafía Hrönn guide audiences through opera history in costume and with humour. Local residents play a central role at each event, which aims to make the National Opera an institution for the whole country.

At the Skálholt performance, the South Iceland Symphony Orchestra was conducted by Guðmundur Óli Gunnarsson. The choirs were Kammerkór Rangæinga, Skálholtskórinn and Kammerkór Norðurlands. Margrét Blöndal was the event’s chief organiser.

The National Opera’s salaried singers, mezzo-soprano Hildigunnur Ólafsdóttir, soprano Kristín Einarsdóttir Mäntylä, tenor Gunnar Björn Jónsson and baritone Kristján Jóhannesson, performed leading roles. Guest singer Gunnlaugur Bjarnason, a baritone from South Iceland, also took part.

During the concert, the Association of Municipalities in South Iceland, the South Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Opera signed a declaration of intent to work together in the future.

Writing in the article, former municipal manager and member of parliament Ísólfur Gylfi Pálmason praised the event and said such experiences can broaden horizons, foster creativity and build understanding.