Opera singer Klara Ek: working across Öresund

Copenhagen as a base for an international career

Klara moved to Copenhagen in 2006 and has since worked as a freelance opera singer in many parts of the world, including the US, Japan, Germany, Italy and elsewhere in Europe.

With an agent in London, Klara has worked on projects around the world. Copenhagen has proved to be an ideal base for her international career as an opera singer. 

For Klara, one of the clear advantages of living in the Öresund region is its proximity to the rest of Europe. Copenhagen Airport provides easy access to major cities around the world, while Copenhagen also has good train connections to Sweden and Hamburg.

In recent years, Klara has wanted to work more locally and has taken on an increasing number of projects in the region through her Swedish agent.

"I’ve even had the opportunity to bike to work in Copenhagen, which is a privilege when working as a freelance opera singer."

Klara has also worked in Sweden. In spring 2020, for example, she performed at Malmö Opera in a production of Orpheus in the Underworld. During the production, she commuted by Öresund train from her home in Copenhagen to Malmö.

"My experience with cross border commuting has been incredibly positive! I appreciate that it creates a break in your day and you often meet colleges on the train. It’s great to be able to work on the train ride over Öresund and that you can combine your family life and work life. The feeling of being able to live in Copenhagen and work in Sweden, and still have time to pick up your children from pre-school and come home to your family in Copenhagen at night is wonderful", says Klara.

Strategically, it’s a great place to be – close to everything!

Klara Ek

When cross-border work becomes complicated

Moving between assignments in different countries has not always been a positive experience for Klara. She has often found it difficult to get clear, comprehensive information about the rules that apply to performing artists taking short-term assignments across borders.

At times, she has felt that she was flying blind and found it difficult to identify the right person to contact about her situation at the relevant public authorities. Klara has experienced problems with both social insurance and unemployment insurance and knows that several colleagues have faced similar issues.

"The dilemma is that you are not always aware of the rules when you accept the job and when you finally realise that this could cause an issue, it is already too late and has become a problem."

 Klara wishes that information like this had been available when she moved to Copenhagen and started freelancing. She feels that clear, comprehensive information for performing artists working across borders has been particularly difficult to find.

Even so, Klara finds it easier to work across the border between Sweden and Denmark than to take on assignments elsewhere in Europe. The distances are shorter, the languages are easier to understand, and she feels that Swedish and Danish public authorities are better able to coordinate across the border.

"For me, there’s no better place to be", says Klara who looks forward to returning to Malmö Opera again.

Klara’s advice for performing artists working across Öresund

• Find an accountant who is knowledgeable in this field and who can help you.
  
  
• Try to collect as much information as possible before you accept an assignment. It is harder to correct potential mistakes afterwards.
  
  
• Find a network of colleagues who are in the same situation. It has helped me a lot to be able to exchange experiences with people in a similar situation.