Finnish opera

Opera house in Helsinki.
Macbeth applause at Savonlinna Opera festival in 2007.

The origins of Finnish opera can be traced to the late 18th century, when the first opera performances were staged in Finland. The first opera to be composed in Finland was Kung Karls jakt with music by Fredrik Pacius and a libretto by Zacharias Topelius. It was first performed in Helsinki on 24 March, 1852.[1]

The Domestic Opera established by Aino Ackté and Edvard Fazer gave its first performance 2 October 1911. It later became the Finnish National Opera.[2]

Savonlinna Opera Festival takes place annually at the medieval Olavinlinna in the city of Savonlinna. Aino Ackté organised the first festival in Savonlinna summer 1912.[3]

After Finland gained independence in 1917, Russian-owned Alexander Theatre become property of Finland. It was given "temporarily" for the Finnish Opera, which used it for 70 years while waiting for the purpose-built opera house to be constructed.[2]

Finnish opera got international reputation in 1970s with works by Joonas Kokkonen and Aulis Sallinen. Kokkonen's opera Last temptations (1975) was staged in Metropolitan in New York in 1983 and received over 500 performances worldwide.[4]

Famous singers include Martti Talvela, Karita Mattila and Soile Isokoski.[5] BBC Music Magazine named Mattila as one of the top 20 sopranos of the recorded era in 2007.[6]

In 21st century, Kaija Saariaho's works have become the most performed operas.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Ruth-Esther Hillila and Barbara Blanchard Hong: Historical Dictionary of the Music and Musicians of Finland (Greenwood, 1997) p.293
  2. 1 2 "Century of dance and song". National Opera. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  3. ↑ "History". Savonlinna Opera Festival. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  4. ↑ Wright, David (1998). "Joonas Kokkonen" (PDF). Wright Music. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  5. ↑ Facts Finland
  6. ↑ "Are these the 20 best sopranos of the recorded era?". The Guardian. 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  7. ↑ "Kaija Saariaho gets lots of love for Love from Afar". Toronto Star.

External links

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