Cast information

Dear friends,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you all to Bergen and to our new production of La Traviata.

La Traviata is, of course, one of the most frequently performed operas in the world. When I worked at Teatro La Fenice in Venice some years ago, the opera was performed almost sixty times in a single season. Here in Bergen, we do not share quite the same tradition. Although the work has been performed here before, it is very likely that for many in our audience this will be their first encounter with this masterpiece, which makes our work together all the more meaningful.

We are extremely happy to welcome such a strong cast: a rich mix of international stars, leading national soloists, and several singers who have grown with us through our summer academy, Opera by the Fjord. Seeing artists return to our stage in new roles and new contexts is something we value deeply.

A special welcome to our director Ole Anders Tandberg, who leads a Nordic creative team we very much look forward to working with. Warm thanks also to maestro Andriy Yurkevych. It is a pleasure to have you with us in Bergen.

As always, I hope you will find some time beyond rehearsals to enjoy what many of us consider Norway’s most beautiful city. Bergen offers dramatic nature, a vibrant cultural life, and a compact city centre perfect for wandering. Make sure to visit the fish market, take a ride on the funicular Fløibanen, walk between two of our seven mountains, explore the KODE museums, or visit Edvard Grieg’s home at Troldhaugen.

We are very much looking forward to the weeks ahead and to creating La Traviata together with you.

From Bergen with love,

Eivind Gullberg Jensen

Opera Director
Bergen National Opera

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE
Please click on the link to see the Production Schedule.

Please contact Mia Julie Wiland (miajulie@bno.no) if you have any questions.

DISCOUNTED TICKETS
We offer 2 discounted tickets for friends and family, please follow this link to purchase tickets

If you have any further questions with regards to tickets, please contact Ole (ole@bno.no)

SOCIAL MEDIA
Please follow us and share your own experience by tagging @bergennasjonaleopera
Would you like us to tag you? Please send your username for facebook and instagram to Monika ( monika@bno.no )

facebook / Bergen National Opera
instagram / Bergen National Opera
YouTube
vimeo

CREATIVE TEAM

Andriy Yurkevych / Conductor
Ole Anders Tandberg / Stage director
Erlend Birkeland / Set designer
Maria Geber / Costume designer
Clement Irbil / Lighting designer
Håkon Matti Skrede / Chorus master
Ann-Terese Aasen / Assistant director
Filippo Barsali / Assistant Conductor

CAST

Kristina Mkhitaryan / Violetta Valéry
Liparit Avetisyan / Alfredo Germont
Kostas Smoriginas / Giorgio Germont
Christina Jønsi / Flora
Álvaro Zambrano / Gastone
Mikael Horned / Barone Douphol
Magne Fremmerlid / Marchese d'Obigny
Ludvig Lindström / Dottore Grenvil
Melissa Baug / Annina
Tyler Ray / Giuseppe, Violetta's servant
David Hansford / En kommisær
Ørjan Hartveit / En tjener

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Edvard Grieg Choir

Sung in Italian, surtitles in Norwegian and English

A new production by Bergen National Opera.
Presented by Bergen National Opera in collaboration with Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and Edvard Grieg Choirs

BACKSTAGE
Mia Julie Wiland / Production Director
Sara Eeg Jonasmo / Stage Manager
Jon Inge Keskitali / Head of Tech
Cathrine Ahlsen / Head of Costume
Barbro Worren / Head of Props
Ingrid Stasi Skjold / Head of Make-Up and SFX
Karl Fridjof Høigjelle / Head of Stage
Ivar Skjørestad / Head of Lights
Jørgen Lystrup / Head of CT-Group

CONTACT DETAILS BNO
All contact emails and phone numbers to BNO staff can be found here

PRACTICAL

Miljøfyrtårn / ECO Lighthouse
BNO is certified Miljøfyrtårn/ ECO Lighthouse since 2021. We focus on how we can make more environmentally friendly choices every day and you can help. Please choose public transport to work, bring your own water bottle, coffee mug, choose trademark products, recycle waste, clean up after you and create a nice work environment

Code Of Conduct
Please see our code of conduct here: Code of conduct

Canteen
The canteen is located on the 4th floor in Grieghallen. It's open during the Orchestra's rehearsal. With the Lunch Deal (50 NOK a day) we offer warm lunch, sandwiches to go, coffee and tea. If you like to join the lunch deal, we kindly ask you to sign up before you arrive by sending an email to Mia Julie (miajulie@bno.no) The canteen does not accept cash or credit card. This lunch deal is for artist and technical personal employed by BNO.

Grieghallen
Grieghallen is a multi purpose venue and BNO only have access to the rooms that are in the Production Schedule. Shared dressing rooms will be assigned after get-in on stage.

Address
Our venue, rehearsal studio and costume fittings are located in Grieghallen

• Edvard Griegs plass 1, 5015 BERGEN

Pictures of the venue and information can be found on their website: www.grieghallen.no

PRESS AND MEDIA

Contact persons
Ole Klemsdal / Head of Marketing and Communication / Send email / +47 911 01 791
Monika / Digital marketer / Send email / +47 92 47 0001

Press
There may be journalists from the press present at the rehearsals during the whole rehearsal period. There will be information about this beforehand.

Photo
Monika from Bergen National Opera's communications department will be recording and taking photos throughout the production for use in our social media channels.

Film
We will be recording parts of the rehearsals for documentation and social media teasers.

DINING IN BERGEN
Here are some tips on where to get discounts when eating out, just remember to bring your BNO card to the below restaurants and cafés and present it when you place your order:

Zen Café: 10% with purchase over NOK 100
Café Opera: 10% Address: Engen 18, 5011 Bergen
Pingvinen: 10% - Address: Vaskerelven 14, 5014 Bergen

FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTRE (FOR OUR PRODUCTIONS IN GRIEGHALLEN, BERGEN)
There are several efficient and easy alternatives for how to get from Bergen Airport Flesland to Bergen city center. Bergen has good public transport services with both the Airport Bus Flybussen and the City Light Rail (called Bybanen in Norwegian), as well as taxis going between the airport and the city center.

If you have suitcase or heavy bags we would recommend the Airports bus. We recommend checking the www.entur.no for information on which transportation is available at the time of arrival at Bergen Lufthavn.

• Bergen City Light rail (Bybanen) The cheapest way to get from Bergen Airport Flesland to Bergen city center is to go by the City Light Rail (Bybanen). It takes about 45 minutes from the Airport to Bergen city center and it costs only NOK 49 for an adult. The ticket needs to be purchased in advance either online at www.skyss.no/en/ or in their app Skyss ticket app. From the airport to the city center is 1 zone.

  Check out www.skyss.no for more information. The City Light Rail starts right at the airport terminals lower deck and ends in the center of Bergen. The closest stop to Grieghallen, Hotel Terminus and Hotel Zander K is called Nonneseter.
  

• Airport bus (Flybussen) A faster way to reach Bergen city center is by the Airport Bus (Flybussen), which only takes 33 minutes. The bus costs NOK 169 if you buy the tickets in advance online at www.flybussen.no The bus has several stops in Bergen city center and the closest stop to Grieghallen, Grand Hotel Terminus and Hotel Zander K is Bergen Busstasjon. You can find the bus just outside the Flesland arrival terminal. All stops with the Airport bus are announced.
• Taxi The most direct way to get to your hotel is to take a taxi. A taxi from Bergen Airport Flesland to Bergen city center costs around NOK 580/630, but prices vary according to the time of day and the number of passengers. The taxis are parked just outside the arrival terminal. They prefer bank card (BankAxept, Visa and MasterCard) as payment, but you could also pay in cash (NOK).

PLANNING YOUR STAY IN NORWAY

Weather
Norwegians love to talk about the weather! It changes from day to day, hour to hour, and we recommend bring clothes for both a rainy day as well as sunshine.

Money
The standard way of paying is by credit card or bank card. Few locals pay with cash - even for a packet of chewing gum.
As for general shopping, all but kiosks and tourists shops are closed on Sundays. Restaurants, cafés and bars are open all week. If you're looking for a Sunday open supermarket we recommend Bunnpris, Torggaten 6, and/or Nygårdsgaten 89.

For things to do in Bergen, check out Visitnorway.com

Premiere Party- what to wear
Anything and everything is welcomed. Most of us wear casual chic.

ANY QUESTIONS?
Please don't hesitate to contact us.

If you have any question regarding artistic program, music and scores, please contact Nicolai@bno.no

Any other question please contact miajulie@bno.no

CONTACT INFO
Bergen Nasjonale Opera
Edvard Griegs plass 1
5015 BERGEN
NORWAY
+47 55 21 61 20
info@bno.no