page_title: Oslo Opera Ball
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Oslo Opera Ball / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Old Free Masons Lodge, Operaball
context_page_description: The annual Operaball is a masquerade with live performances held in Oslo, Norway, by the Tårnseilerne association since 1988. The Operaball merged with Oslo Opera Festival in 2004 for a week of concerts and performances with Opera and classical music.
context_section_description: 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. These traditions are closesly related to the present Operaball in Oslo. Several compositions have been written for these events, notably Johan Svendsens Festival Polonaise. Edvard Grieg has performed and held concerts in the freemasons lodge and one piano composition is called At the carnival. 
  The present series were initiated by Bjørn Einar Sakseid. His first full-scale ball required roccoco costumes with Mozart style wigs, powder, and white stockings.
  After the restoration and reopening of the old Freemasons Lodge, this ball series has been the largest event in this hall. The capacity is 600 people. After a gala performance a procession walks a historical route through the city streets Count to Wedel's Square and the freemasons Lodge. From 1988 to 2006 the performance was at the Norwegian Opera in Folketeaterbygningen, the new Opera House in Bjørvika opened in 2008. In 2007 and 2011 a mini-opera was held in the old freemasons Lodge.
caption: Operaball in Oslo 2005
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