Opera Meets Film: Strained Relations and Non-Endings in Sebastian Fagerlund’s ‘Autumn Sonata’

(Photo: Sakari Viika/Finnish Music Quarterly) Throughout operatic history, family difficulties are among the most widely utilized themes by composers, with the more recognizable feuds seemingly being children and their (step) mothers. From Pamina and her mother (“Die Zauberflöte”), Hansel, Gretel, and their stepmother (“Hansel and Gretel”), Lucette/Cinderella and her stepmother (“Cendrillon”), and Elektra and her stepmother (“Elektra”), there is something {…}

Joyce El-Khoury, Vladimir Stoyanov, Daniel Brenna, Johanna Rusanen, Hye-Youn Lee Headline Finnish National Opera & Ballet’s 2023-24 Season

The Finnish National Opera and Ballet has announced its 2023-24 season. First up is “Das Lied von der Erde” with mezzo-soprano Tuija Knihtilä and tenor Tuomas Katajala as the soloists. Ville Matvejeff conducts. Performance Date: August 3, 2023 Hannu Lintu conducts Verdi’s “Requiem” with soprano Silja Aalto, tenor Mika Pohjonen, mezzo Maiju Vaahtoluoto, and bass Matti Turunen as the soloists. {…}

OperaVision 2018-19 Preview: Watch ‘Ice’ From The Finnish National Opera & Ballet

OperaVision will start streaming the world premiere of “Ice” at the Finnish National Opera and Ballet on March 5, 2019. The opera, written by Juhani Koivisto and composed by Jaakko Kuusisto, will feature Ville Rusanen, Marjukka Tepponen, Sointu Wessmann, Markus Growth, Jussi Merikanto, Jenny Carlstedt, Jenni Lättilä, and Pekka Kuivalainen, among many others. The composer leads thiis performance while Anna {…}