Unveiled in 1982, the Statue of Kirsten Flagstad by Joseph Grimelund is a life-sized bronze statue of the famous opera singer. Residing outside of the Oslo Opera House in the capital of Norway, the piece has been moved many times, highlighting what sort of context and connection a monument can enable for audiences, locations and entire countries.
Born in 1895, Kirsten Flagstad was one of the most notable opera singers of her era. Mentioned as “the voice of the century,” she was raised in Olso and performed her last operatic appearance in the city in 1953. She served as the first Director of the Norwegian National Opera at a time when Norway was still an “opera country.”
The Statue of Kirsten Flagstad by Joseph Grimelund was originally unveiled in front of the Norwegian Academy of Music in Majorstuen. All of the Norwegian sculptor’s pieces convey a sense of emotion that transcends eras, earning him both the King’s Medal of Merit and the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav. His Statue of Kirsten Flagstad conveys this same sense of emotion, with Flagstad looking as if she is basking in the adulation of the crowd after just completing a performance. The sculpture would eventually be moved to a spot outside of the Olso Opera House in Bjørvika.
Complete in 2007, the Oslo Opera House has become one of the most famous structures in Olso, winning multiple architectural awards. The Statue of Kirsten Flagstad is connected to this notoriety on multiple levels, showcasing one of the early stars of the opera in the 20th century as well as someone who is inherently linked to the past and present opera culture of Oslo.
Indirectly welcoming people to the area and to the Oslo Opera House itself, the Statue of Kirsten Flagstad highlights what it can look like for a monument to enable cultural connections that impact the hearts and minds of audiences in multiple ways.
