Nobel Peace Prize Concert - Designing a holistic experience
The Nobel Peace Prize Concert is a celebration of the peace prize winners, and after two years of cancellations due to the pandemic, The Norwegian Nobel Institute and the Oslo Philharmonic invited Snøhetta to help create a new and modern visual expression for the worldwide broadcast.
Snøhetta has collaborated with the Oslo Philharmonic, choreographer and director Fredrik Benke Rydman, the Nobel Institute and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) to create the stage design for the concert which includes a set design with graphic elements and a light installation.
The ambition was to create a new format to reinvent the concert with a long tradition.
The design concept of balance aims to combine the modern with the traditional, the playful with the sophisticated, the human and the technological, the dark with the light. It was equally important to find the balance between the design and what the musicians and dancers need to practice their art.
It is based on the idea that peace is not the absence of conflict, but a state of balance.
The forest of light is a light installation emerging out of the main stage and is completely emersed within the musicians.
The light poles are designed to perform with maximum output on the smallest surface. Through its triangular shape the light strips are programable in a dynamic and exiting way and are viewable from 360 degrees.
In addition to the light installation Snøhetta has developed a visual concept around a bobbinet curtain to enable the projection of content. When not in use it regulates the focus areas during the show to ensure a good flow for the TV production.
The idea of balance is also reflected in the choice of music pieces throughout the whole concert. It consists of different artistic extremes that meet to find a common language. A pop artist creates the opening work together with a classical composer. A slam poet recites to the orchestra’s cellist. And a street dancer moves to Stravinsky.
You can see several clips from the concert on YouTube:
The Other side (Nobel Theme)
Myra, Eivind Buene, Elim Chan, Oslo Philharmonic
Winter ( Antonio Vivaldi)
Eldbjørg Hemsing, Oslo Philharmonic
Mishima (Philip Glass)
Oslo Philharmonic
