The Icelandic Opera, the national company established by law in 2025 as part of the National Theatre, opens with an evening of arias that travels round the country before it reaches Reykjavík. The title plays on a coincidence: in the year Jónas Hallgrímsson wrote his poem Ástarstjarna yfir Hraundranga, of the love star over Hraundrangi, Wagner wrote an aria to the evening star. The story of opera is told from the courts of Italy to Iceland, sung by the company's four newly engaged singers, Kristín Einarsdóttir Mäntylä, Hildigunnur Einarsdóttir, Gunnar Björn Jónsson and Kristján Jóhannesson, while two actors of the National Theatre, Ólafía Hrönn Jónsdóttir and Örn Árnason, lead the audience through it. Ólafur Egill Egilsson wrote and directs it, and it runs about two hours with one interval. The last evening is on the main stage of the National Theatre, where Sinfóníuhljómsveit Norðurlands and the opera's own chorus, Kór Óperunnar, perform under Richard Schwennicke.
Performers
- Kristín Einarsdóttir Mäntyläsoprano
- Hildigunnur Einarsdóttirmezzo-soprano
- Gunnar Björn Jónssontenor
- Kristján Jóhannessonbaritone
- Ólafía Hrönn Jónsdóttiractor
- Örn Árnasonactor
- Richard Schwennickeconductor
- Sinfóníuhljómsveit Norðurlandsorchestra
- Kór Óperunnarchoir
- Ólafur Egill Egilssonwriter and director