The country’s largest opera festival gathers both professional soloists, amateurs, and volunteers. This year’s main performances in 2025 will take place in the traditional cultural building Festiviteten, while many of the smaller performances and concerts during the Opera Festival are organized in more intimate settings throughout the city.
Norway’s largest opera festival
Winter
Last updated: 17.10.2024
© Operaen i Kristiansund
From 6 to 15 February, more than thirty concerts will be held during the Operafestukene Opera Festival in Kristiansund. The opera festival is Norway's largest festival of opera and classical music, and during the first two weeks of February you can experience opera, operetta, talks and intimate concerts at untraditional venues.
Opera på café | © Bjørn Hansen/ Operaen i Kristiansund
The whole town is a stage
Many of the concerts during the Opera Festival take place in various locations around the city; in cafés, restaurants, libraries, outdoors, and on the Sundbåten. This is part of the festival's signature. According to opera director Line Lønning Andresen, it’s a fantastic experience for the singers to connect closely with the audience in a more informal setting than the traditional stage.
The Stikkut! opera has also become a tradition during the Opera Festival in Kristiansund. This year’s outdoor experience takes place at Varden—a short walk through Kristiansund’s perhaps finest park area, Vanndamman, and up to a small height that offers a view over the entire city.
Operasjef Line Lønning Andresen|© Operaen i Kristiansund
‘We also hold concerts at all the city's nursing homes during the festival. These are well received and terrific both for the residents and the soloists who participate in the concerts.’
Sagas – a tribute to the fantasy universe in Kristiansund
Among this year’s highlights is Sagas, a tribute to the fantasy realm with grand music and mythical stories from films, TV series, and games. Here, the audience can truly enjoy a magical evening at the Opera, with excerpts from Harry Potter, Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, World of Warcraft, Game of Thrones, and more.
Operettefest
This year’s second highlight during the Opera Festival is “Operettefest,” a collection of music from the world’s most popular operettas, musicals, and operas that you are sure to have heard before. The evening will be filled with grand waltzes, exquisite costumes, sparkling elegance, and catchy melodies with professional soloists, musicians, and talented local young dancers on stage—there is much to look forward to!
Czardasfyrstinnen | © Operaen i Kristiansund
The country's best performing artists
The soloists performing during the Opera Festival are among the best performing artists in the country. This year’s performers include Sigrid Vetleseter Bøe, Marius Roth Christensen, Gunda Marie Bruce, the Opera Choir, the Opera Sinfonietta, and the Kristiansund Symphony Orchestra. On stage and in the orchestra, along with the soloists, many skilled amateurs from the entire region contribute. The Opera Festival engages the whole city and involves volunteers both on stage, behind the scenes, and in front of the audience.
Operafestukene arrangeres hvert år i februar i Kristiansund|© Operaen i Kristiansund
Proud of the opera
‘I think the people of Kristiansund are proud of the opera. The opera festival is a ray of light during an otherwise dark and gloomy time of the year. The public appreciates having a festival of the people in February,’ says Andresen.
The festival draws people into the town and there’s a great atmosphere at the bustling hotels and restaurants. If you plan to visit Kristiansund during the Operafestukene opera festival, it’s advisable that you book in advance.
