About Operalåven
Operalåven is a cultural venue in Ål, in the Hallingdal valley. The barn sits high on the hillside in Votndalen, nearly 800 metres above sea level, on a magnificent farm dating back to the early 18th century. Concerts and performances have been held at the farm since 2019, and in 2024 the century-old cowshed was converted into a concert hall.
The farm offers spectacular views across Hallingdal and the surrounding mountains—even from inside the venue. A seven-metre-wide glass wall brings the outdoors in, allowing you to feel close to nature while staying warm and comfortable indoors.
Operalåven is the only venue in Buskerud to present opera events regularly. Our annual concert series include the New Year Concert, Easter Sounds and Summer Opera. We are also delighted to host other concerts throughout the year, often in collaboration with fellow organisers such as Fryd Scene.
Tickets for our events can be booked through our valued partner, Ål Kulturhus, at aal.kulturhus.no.
Operalåven is also available to hire for a range of events. The hall accommodates up to 140 people in a cinema-style layout and can be set up for dining for up to 110 guests. The venue has a kitchen, cloakroom and accessible toilet facilities, and is designed for universal accessibility.
We look forward to welcoming you—as an audience member, performer, event guest or meeting participant!
Warm regards,
Marit Sehl
General Manager
The story of Nørdre Sehl Farm
Marit’s great-grandfather, Halvor Oppheimshaugen, came from Oppheim in Torpo. In 1918, he bought Nørdre Sehl Farm in Votndalen. The property had originally been a summer pasture, or heimstøl, belonging to a farm further down the valley; the name Sehl derives from the Norwegian word sel, meaning a summer pasture. In the 18th century, the property became an independent farm, and the main house’s living room was decorated with beautiful ceiling paintings. When Halvor and his wife, Birgit Trintrud, moved there, they took the surname Sehl.
There was an old cowshed on the farm. Halvor wanted to build a new, larger barn, and after several years of work it was completed around 1930. One summer’s day in 1933, Halvor had taken his horse and cart down to the mill to have grain ground when he saw smoke rising from the farm. It must have been a hard climb for the horse up the steep slopes, with the barn ablaze at the top. People came from all the neighbouring farms and tried to put out the fire with buckets of water, but to no avail. The barn burned to the ground, and Halvor had to start over. Once again, the farmyard became a sawmill, and new timber was brought down from the forest. Three years later, the new barn was complete, with room for cows, horses and sheep. It was said to be the largest barn in Ål at the time.
In 2018, exactly 100 years after Halvor arrived at the farm, Nørdre Sehl once again became a year-round home. This time, the residents were not farmers, but a classical singer and a building engineer. The idea of turning the barn into a concert hall began to take shape. To test it, they advertised a “Cold New Year Concert” in the draughty but atmospheric barn. An adventurous audience showed up—and everyone wanted more. The next project was an outdoor Summer Opera in the farmyard. By then, there was no doubt: this was fun!
Since then, thousands of people have made their way up the hills to the farm. Following its conversion, the cowshed is now a warm and welcoming concert hall, where we have preserved as much as possible of the original log walls and old interior. Photographs of the farm from 1925 and 1928 hang on the walls, showing both the original barn and the one that burned down.
Welcome to Operalåven!
