About the project

By the decision of the Minister of Culture, National Heritage and Sport of the Republic of Poland dated 17 August 2021, the project New voices, rediscovered opera. Establishment of the Polish-Norwegian Opera Academy has received a positive funding decision and a grant of € 496198.98 as part of the outcome of the second call for proposals for Action 2 Improving access to culture and the arts of the Culture Programme under the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism 2014-2021.

A total of € 583,000 (PLN 2.6 million) was allocated to the project financed by grants from the EEA Funds and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland.

The main objective of the project is to strengthen cooperation between Polish and Norwegian artistic circles through the realisation of two opera performances presented in Łodz and Trondheim, using the artistic potential of the musical communities of Polish and Norwegian music universities and music institutions of both countries.

It is an innovative extension of their current activities, as Trondheim Symfoniorkester & Opera has not organised events related to artistic education before, and the University of Music for the first time undertakes cooperation with a Norwegian orchestra in the realisation of an opera performance. The performances will be preceded by auditions and masterclasses and workshops. In 2022, it is planned to stage J. Haydn's opera Il mondo della luna, and in 2023 a Norwegian opera selected by the artistic council established within the Opera Academy project. This will be Stale Kleiberg's opera-oratorio David and Bathsheba.

The performances will be available online and to the public in concert halls. The project influences the development of the audience and is an implementation of the audience development strategy of the TSO and the Development Strategy of the Music Universityy in Lodz, through the realisation of speaking concerts.

The project will be realised in the period 5.07.2021 - 30.06.2023.

A total of 12 opera performances and 4 speaking concerts will be held in both countries.

The project affects the development of entrepreneurship, through participation in international opera productions prepares students to enter the labour market. Moreover, it enriches the competences of young artists to function as independent artists and entrepreneurs.