Opera, Theatre

Ages 14+

45 minutes

Description

The faceless existence of life on the Internet finds its voice in this thrilling new opera by award-winning composers Matilde Böcher and Asger Kudahl.

LOL – Laughing Out Lonely was written for renowned countertenor Morten Grove Frandsen, who captivates with his portrayal of a multitude of outsiders in a deeply dramatic universe. The work leads the audience into the darkest corners of the Internet, where misogynistic, self-destructive, racist, and otherwise marginal figures have found an absurd online community. With his extraordinary voice, Frandsen embodies characters such as the girl with the “terribly ugly face,” who self-harms to forget her pain, and the ashamed boy known as “the lamb,” who dreams of being slaughtered.

The English-language lyrics, based on real posts from young people on social media, offer a mirror that is both unsettling and thought-provoking—reflecting our digital age with stark clarity. The production is staged as a theatrical echo chamber, where the audience becomes part of the set, surrounded by speakers and selfie lights.

LOL is produced by the innovative Danish company OPE-N, which merges the expressive potential of opera with physical theatre. The result is groundbreaking performances accessible to wide audiences while delivering meaningful renewal to the operatic genre.

Biography

Morten Grove Frandsen is Denmark’s leading countertenor and a regular guest at the Royal Danish Opera, where he has appeared in a wide range of both early and contemporary operas.

His recent and upcoming engagements at the Royal Danish Opera include the role of David in Handel’s Saul with Concerto Copenhagen and Lars Ulrik Mortensen.

To date, Morten has participated in 22 world premieres, including Niels Rønsholdt’s critically acclaimed The Last Right (2022) and Louise Alenius’s immersive opera Silent Zone (2027), both for the Copenhagen Opera Festival, as well as Fundal’s Incognito Royal for the Danish National Opera (2021).

He has also collaborated with Trondheim Opera, Scottish Opera, Aarhus Summer Opera, Klang Festival, Riga Baroque Festival, and the experimental theatres Republique and Black/White in Copenhagen.

Morten received the prestigious Reumert nomination for his performance in the solo opera LOL – Laughing Out Lonely, which premiered at the SPOR Festival in Aarhus (2023) and has since toured throughout Denmark. The presentation of LOL at the esteemed Operudagar festival in Reykjavik in October 2025 marks the beginning of an international tour that will bring the work to North America and Scandinavia.

**Please note that the doors will close at the start of the performance and no latecomers will be admitted.**

Credits

LOL is an initiative and production of OPE-N in collaboration with SPOR Festival, Aalborg Opera Festival, and Copenhagen Opera Festival.

The core creative team includes:

Composers: Matilde Böcher and Asger Kudahl

Concept & Stage Direction: Louise Beck

Countertenor: Morten Grove Frandsen

Set & Costume Design: Josefine Else Larsen and Roe Ørslev

Lighting Design: Jeppe Lawaetz

Tour Manager: Luna Brøndal

Tour Technician: Jakob Rosendal

The LOL tour is supported by the Danish Arts Council.

Refunds

No refunds