The Finnish National Opera has announced its 2026-27 season.

New Productions 

Monica Zanettin and Liana Aleksanyan lead Verdi’s “Aida” Giorgi Sturua, Milen Bozhkov, Emilia Rukavina, Tuija Knihtilä, Tuomas Pursio, Samuli Takkula, Don Lee, Young-Doo Park, Volodymyr Tyshkov, and Koit Soasepp. Noa Naamat directs the production and Dan Ettinger and Harri Karri conduct.

Performance Dates: August 28, 2026 – Oct. 1, 2026

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Kevin Newbury will direct “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs” by Mason Bates and Mark Campbell. The Orchestra of the Finnish National Opera is conducted by Michael Christie. John Moore sings the title role, Sarah Zieba appears as Jobs’s wife Laurene Powell Jobs, and Mika Pohjonen sings Jobs’s business partner Steve Wozniak. The cast will be rounded out by Wei Wu, Ville Rusanen, Hanna Rantala, and Anu Ontronen.

Performance Dates: Sept. 18, 2026-Oct. 16, 2026

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Gluck’s “Orfeo & Euridice” will receive a new production directed and choreographed by the acclaimed Tero Saarinen. Orfeo will be sung by countertenors Michał Sławecki and Kangmin Justin Kim while Eurydice is performed by sopranos Sonja Herranen and Anna Barletta, with sopranos Suvi Väyrynen and Saara Rauvala as Amor. Aapo Häkkinen conducts.

Performance Dates: Jan. 29–Feb. 27, 2027

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“The Handmaid’s Tale” by Poul Ruders and Paul Bentley will be presented in a production by John Fulljames and conducted by Karen Kamensek. The cast will include Hanna Hipp, Jere Hölttä, and Johan Reuter.

Rounding out the cast will be Susan Bullock, Taylor Raven, Saara Kiiveri, Emma Mustaniemi, Jordanka Milkova, and Niina Keitel.

Performance Dates: March 19–April 24, 2027

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Donizetti’s “Maria Stuarda” will be directed by Sir David McVicar and will be conducted by Paolo Arrivabeni. The cast will include Julia Rutigliano, Sarah Zieba, Diana Alexe, Konu Kim, Markus Nykänen, Sam Taskinen, Waltteri Torikka, Timo Riihonen, and Markus Suihkonen.

Performance Dates: May 13-29, 2027

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Revivals 

Vincenzo Nizzardo, Silja Aalto, Georg Festl, Iris Candelaria, and Elli Vallinoja star in Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” with James Sherlock conducting.

Performance Dates: Oct. 22-Nov. 27, 2026

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Daniel Brenna stars in Britten’s “Peter Grimes” with Maria Bengtsson, Tuomas Pursio, and Tuija Knihtilä. Dima Slobodeniouk conducts.

Performance Dates: Nov. 21-Dec. 11, 2026

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Mihails Čulpajevs, Markus Nykänen, Darija Augustan, Evelin Novak, Paula Iancic, Elsa-Maija Helminen, Matija Meić, Alik Abdukayumov, Sam Taskinen, Waltteri Torikka, Markus Suihkonen, and Janne Sihvo star in Puccini’s “La bohème” in a revival of  Riikka Räsänen’s production. Nil Venditti conducts.

Performance Dates: Feb. 13-April 7, 2027

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Special Performances 

The Organ Night and Aria Festival concert at Tapiola Church will treat audiences to some of the most beloved opera arias by Giuseppe Verdi, W. A. Mozart and Gaetano Donizetti. Mika Pohjonen and Koit Soasepp are the soloists with Mikael Loponen conducting.

Performance Date: August 6, 2026

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The Sugar Factory will showcase “The Request,” “Mouthpiece, “Emerge: Ooops…Life! and “love is a rebellious bird.” The evening will star Sam Taskinen, Sarah Zieba, Jasper Leppänen, Isabella Shaw, Vilma Hyvärinen, Tuula Paavola, Emilia Vesalainen-Pellas, Riku Pelo, Júlia Arquillo, Joonatan Pylkkönen, Sirpa Nuuttila, Sakari Topi, Roseta La León, Madiana Lundberg, Miritza Lundberg, and Miska Lundberg.

Performance Dates: August 13-15, 2026

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“The Maiden of Imatra” will be presented with Senja Syrjälä, Jere Hölttä, Jussi Vänttinen, and Laura Juvonen.

Performance Dates: Sept 24-26, 2026

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“Soulmaidens” will blend contemporary puppet theatre, electronic sound design and baroque imagery to present Claudio Monteverdi’s music theatre. Tuuli Lindeberg, Erica Back, Jakob Bloch Jespersen, Karoliina Illi, Eve Mäkitalo, and Tella Vahala star.

Performance Dates: Oct. 8–10, 2026

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