The opera stage seems to be the last place where one would expect to see IKEA furniture, still it’s exactly where it recently appeared. The furniture pieces from the Swedish retailer were used for stage design of two classic operas, which are not related to either to modern house design or the history of furniture in any way. The brand, which likes to experiment with colours and forms, now has entered a new universe, the opera one, by contributing to the settings of the operas at Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa.

Photo: IKEA at the opera, www.designboom, by Marcello Orselli

IKEA, which is known for its affordable and stylish offerings, has contributed to the set design of two operas, ‘The Bell’ by Gaetono Donizzetti and ‘Gianni Schicchi’ by Giacomo Puccini —one of the performances was set  in the Victorian era and the other took the audience back to the Medieval times. Despite the enormous gap between the era of IKEA and the time described in the operas, the furniture pieces, ranging from stools, tables and buffets to secretaries, libraries and bed frames, were perfectly integrated into the design and added to the atmosphere of each of the performances.

“‘The Bell’ takes place inside of the house of a newly-wed couple. Along with the costumes and props, the chairs, tables and buffets communicate their location and social status. The flexible quality of the pieces allowed them to be moved and arranged by the actors, becoming a key component of the play,” says designboom. The stage designers used pieces that, while having a modern look and style, seemed to be a perfect find for implementing the new solution.

Photo: IKEA at the opera, www.designboom, by Marcello Orselli

“The second opera, ‘Gianni Schicchi’ took a different approach to using the furniture, with a bedroom being the main location. Using natural wood finishes created a different atmosphere. The ASPELUND bed frame, in center stage, was a main prop, with the singers jumping on and off several times,” adds the source.

In 2009, IKEA took opera to its London store, using its furniture as the ready-made ‘theatrical sets’ of the ‘Flatpack’ promenade opera—each scene of it took place in a different location of the store.