In 1432, eleven Italian sailors washed ashore on an island off Røst, at the far end of Lofoten. They were accompanied by the merchant Pietro Querini. It had been almost two months since their ship went down, and most of the original 68-man crew were dead. Since 2012, the opera that tells the story of the Italians who ended up on Røst has been staged. Recently it was staged in Venice. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news When they were found by the Røstværings, they looked almost like sea monsters. Several were partially eaten by larvae. Nevertheless, the people of Røst took them into their houses and saved them. Pietro Querini and his crew recorded this history. 600 years later, over 100 voice actors have traveled the opposite way to stage an opera. – It’s about community Both for the people of Røst and for Venice, the story of Pietro Querini and his encounter with the island has been known for a long time. In 2012, the Røstværingen staged the opera about history for the first time. It was the world’s first dried fish opera. Ever since 2012, it has been the dream of the cast members to stage the opera about Pietro Querini and his crew in the 15th century in Venice. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news But the dream was always to bring the opera back to Venice. 11 years later, they did it. – Who would have thought that we would be able to stage this opera in Venice. It is actually a feat, says opera manager Hildegunn Pettersen. And to make this opera, almost 20 percent of the inhabitants of the small island municipality have traveled to Venice. – I think it’s a lot about the community. We have a common history that we have grown up with. Paradise’s first circuit This is how the eleven Italians who drifted ashore outside Lofoten described the small community. But what was it about Røst that was so wonderful? The Italians were in the company of the nobleman Pietro Querini, and had been shipwrecked for almost two months. Actually they came from Venice. A city that already had streets, beautiful churches, aqueducts and public baths. What they came to was a small community of just over a hundred people who lived in small round wooden houses with windows in the roof. Magne FremmerlidMagne Fremmerlid played the lead role as Pietro Querini in the opera that was staged in Venice. – Why do you think Pietro Querini was so excited about Røst? – I have been so well received at Røst itself. They are incredibly hospitable and nice people, says Fremmerlid. – In the opera I sing as Querini that I have encountered another world. They probably had slightly different values. In Venice it was probably superficial where money, power and honor were what mattered. – At Røst they were much closer to each other as people and were more natural. He writes about this in his account, which is the basis for the opera. – This is a very good source, and the reason why we know a lot about society on the coast of Nordland in the 15th century, says historian Sturla Ellingvåg. – What were they so impressed by? – At Røst, they didn’t lock anything. No one stole from anyone and there was a strong culture of collaboration and sharing. Although the Mediterranean cities had beautiful buildings, clothes in beautiful fabrics and advanced infrastructure, the communities in northern Norway had something else. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news There was a strong community of trust. – The roots of the trust society go back a long way. There was less hierarchy, and more of a collaborative culture, says historian Ellingvåg. – It goes back very far in time and has to do with survival. It has shaped us. Linked by fish Røst and Venice still have a lot to do with each other. Why, you might wonder? Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news The answer hangs on the gills on Røst: Dry fish. Both countries love dried fish. Paolo Querini – It’s a lot about the humanity of people at Røst. But of course also dried fish. That’s what Paolo Querini, Pietro Querini’s successor, says. He saw Røstværingene’s opera in Venice. – The friendship between Venice and Røst began with Pietro Querini. Now the friendship is even stronger, he says. Querini and the crew also brought dried fish with them on the return journey 101 days after they arrived in Røst. In retrospect, several people have said that this was the start of the dry fish adventure in Lofoten. Geography is to blame. The small society, which 600 years ago collaborated to save the eleven Italians, has now collaborated to put on an opera about this in Venice. – What makes you work together so well? – The Røst people have it in them. We live in a place and the sea is dangerous. It is so fundamental to our nature that this feels completely natural to us, says opera manager Hildegunn Pettersen. In the opera performance, there were around 60 singing Northerners on stage. In addition, they brought with them nine professional opera singers who sang in Italian. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news Her personal theory is that the generosity comes from the geography and the place where they live. – We live on a flat island, eleven meters above sea level. We have a long horizon. That’s why we see far and can think big. And historian Sturla Ellingvåg agrees with that. Historian Sturla Ellingvåg is up-to-date with 12,000 years of Norwegian history. Photo: Agnete Brun – Geography and climate have influenced us for thousands of years and continue to influence us, he says. – In a coastal culture, you become very united when there are harsh conditions. This means that society works well and hard together. It can be transferred to positive things too, like putting on an opera performance in Venice together.
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20 percent of the Lofoten municipality Røst went to Venice to stage a dry fish opera – news Nordland
