hinÓperan to premiere LGBTQ+ themed opera in Reykjavík

hinÓperan, a new Icelandic opera company dedicated to increasing LGBTQ+ visibility on the operatic stage, is bringing the production ‘27’ to Reykjavík. The opera, composed by Ricky Ian Gordon with a libretto by Royce Vavrek, explores the love story between Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas.

The production is scheduled to premiere on October 30. While many operas in Iceland are translated into Icelandic, hinÓperan has chosen to perform ‘27’ in its original English to respect Gertrude Stein’s writing and accommodate non-native speakers. Icelandic translations will be provided via a screen during the performance.

The company’s arrival follows a period in Iceland where no running opera company existed, though the recent founding of the National Opera and grassroots efforts in Reykjavík have maintained the local operatic tradition.