Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In 1891 he travelled to Copenhagen and then to Paris and Italy, where he worked
with various masters; he was especially inspired by the work of French sculptor
Auguste Rodin. When his public grants ran out he returned to Norway to make a liv-
ing working on the restoration of the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim and producing
commissioned portraits of prominent Norwegians.
In 1921 the City of Oslo recognised his talents and built him a spacious studio in
which to work; it's now a museum.
The highlight of Vigeland Park is the 14m-high granite
Monolith,
which crowns
the park's highest hill. This incredible production required three stone carvers work-
ing daily from 1929 to 1943 and was carved from a single stone pillar quarried from
Iddefjorden in southeastern Norway. It depicts a writhing mass of 121 detailed hu-
man figures, both entwined with and undermining each other in their individual
struggle to reach the top. The circle of steps around it supports rows of stone figures.
The figures, together with the pillar, have been interpreted in many ways: as a phallic
representation, the struggle for existence, yearnings for the spiritual spheres and tran-
scendence of cyclic repetition.
Leading down from the plinth bearing this column is a series of steps that support
sculptures depicting people experiencing the full range of human emotions and activ-
ities. The numerous sculptures dominating the surrounding park carry the artist's
themes, from the realistic to the ludicrous.
Also in the foyer is a
restaurant (mains Nkr230, set menus Nkr395)
, serving suitably
modern and arty takes on old Norwegian classics.
To see more of the building's interior, you will have to join one of the infrequent
guided tours. These run in
English (Nkr100; 2pm daily mid-Apr-Aug, 2pm Fri-Sun
Sep-mid-Apr)
and
Norwegian (Nkr100; noon daily)
and take you into some of the
building's 1100 rooms. The guide will explain much of the artistic symbolism of the build-
ingandreveal something oflife behind the scenes at the Opera House.Inhighseason it'sa
good idea to book a space on a tour in advance.
While wandering around the building, it can be easy to forget that it's not just there to
serve as eye candy for tourists, and that its prime role is to act as a showcase for top-notch
operaandballetperformances.Upcomingperformancesarelistedonthewebsiteandticket
prices vary from Nkr100 to Nkr1000.
Eventually the ongoing waterfront redevelopment will see the Munch Museum and the
National Library relocated to sites close to the Opera House, although neither is likely to
be completed during the lifetime of this topic.
