The Finnish National Opera and Ballet will premiere four new short Finnish operas at Almi Hall on August 13, marking the culmination of the first year of “The Sugar Factory,” a new opera works program financed by the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

Over the course of a year, 12 artists, four composers, four librettists, and four directors, developed the works with support from mentors and international experts, including directors Martin Lloyd Evans and Olivia Fuchs, librettist Royce Vavrek, composers Jonathan Dove and Lynne Plowman, and conductor Dominic Wheeler. No prior experience creating opera was required of the selected artists.

The four short works will be performed together in a single evening, exploring themes of trauma, social inequality, technology, identity, fantasy, violence, love, and transformation. They include “The Mouthpiece,” composed by Stephen James Webb to a libretto by Susi Siriya Orenius. This work follows a child’s dental visit that unravels into a journey through class divides and childhood fears. The work is directed by Pelzi Peltola, who also designed its sets and costumes.

Also on the program is “The Request,” with music by Eeva Kontu and a libretto by Jenna Viro, which follows a young man who commissions a sex robot replica of his childhood self, exploring memory and identity shaped by digital intimacy. Bálint Barcsai directs, with costumes by Erika Turunen.

“Emerge: Oops…life!,” composed by Miika Hyytiäinen to a libretto by Ilmari Nera, follows three women confronting their own traumas after witnessing a violent incident on the street. The work incorporates cinematic video material into the live stage space. Anna Maria Lipponen directs, with costumes by Erika Turunen.

“love is a rebellious bird,” composed by Sid Hille to a libretto by Carmen Baltzar, is framed as a ritual between death and rebirth. Baltzar codirects the work with Sara Melleri, with costumes by Erika Turunen.

Jukka Niiranen designed the lighting for all four works, with set design by Tinja Salmi in collaboration with the creative teams. Kaapo Ijas conducts.

“One of the most interesting aspects of The Sugar Factory is the artists’ genuine desire to bring out fresh perspectives, unburdened by tradition. Our job is to listen to them and support them,” said Thomas de Mallet Burgess, Artistic Director of the Finnish National Opera, per an official press release.

The Sugar Factory is a three-year program designed to nurture the development of new Finnish opera. The 12 artists for its next season will be announced in autumn 2026, with an open call for a third round opening in spring 2027.

Read Related Stories 

• Finnish National Opera and Ballet Proposes New Principal Conductor, Extends Artistic Director