Oslo Opera Ball

The annual Operaball is a masquerade with live performances held in Oslo, Norway, by the Tårnseilerne association (Swift) since 1988. The Operaball merged with Oslo Opera Festival in 2004 for a week of concerts and performances with Opera and classical music.

History

The balls have been period historical costume or masquerade balls and have been held in the historical Gamle Logen. The old Freemasons Lodge in Oslo was renovated in 1989, but housed similar events in Christiania throughout the 19th century attended by some of Norway's most famous composers and artists – such as Edvard Grieg, Halfdan Kjerulf, Johan Svendsen, etc. Participants have first attended an Opera performance at the national opera house, then walk in a costume or carnival procession with horse-drawn carts through the historical centre of Oslo to the historical former freemasons Lodge. Then follows parallel performances and dance in up to six different halls with several orchestras and groups of musicians. All participants are invited to two evenings of rehearsals in historical dances, such as the menuett, mazurka, francaise, lanciers, galopp and so forth. Lectures and information evenings inform about the period, culture and attires chosen as theme for the event.

The annual series have historical precedents since the 1850s in the same hall. There were annual masquerade balls in the Old Freemasons lodge, by the student association and later also by the artist association in the carnival season in Christiania.