W. A. Mozart’s Don Giovanni is director Jussi Nikkilä’s first genuine deep dive into the world of opera. ”The story is about a sex addict. I wanted to take a bold approach to the theme. Don Giovanni is an adult male who has operated in a certain way for decades. His entire character, his behavioural pattern and what he does to people provide an ideal landscape and dramatic tension for a director.”
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“I see Der Ring des Nibelungen as one of the finest works of the opera genre. I was already fascinated by it when I was young. I started to watch Das Rheingold half-heartedly, but the opera had me hooked and I was compelled to see the other parts, too. I was instantly carried away by both the music and the story. I’d seen many operas before, but this was a life-changing experience; the story is so interesting and captivating,“ says director Anna Kelo.
"I see each orchestra as a unique person, like different people. Sometimes there’s immediate chemistry between the conductor and the orchestra. That’s what happened with the orchestra of the FNOB." Read an interesting interview of our Principal Guest Conductor Patrick Fournillier.
The music must describe the beautiful yet merciless sea and ice, and how small and powerless we are against their might. These were composer, conductor and violinist Jaakko Kuusisto’s first thoughts when starting to work on his new Finnish opera, Ice. It is based on Ulla-Lena Lundberg’s bestselling novel. Read more!
Director Christof Loy's thoughts about the opera.
"The world of opera in itself is unique, you just get carried away with it." Helinä Siltanen, opera singer in the chorus of the FNO tells about her job. Read more!
"Anyone coming in for make-up just sits in the first available chair, so I never know what character I will be creating next." Make-up Artist Daniela Echkart tells about her job at the FNOB.
Finally! Verdi’s cherished opera classic, Il trovatore, is back in the repertoire of the Finnish National Opera. It’s been a long wait, as Il trovatore hasn’t been seen on the National Opera stage since 2003. Thanks to its thrilling rhythms and catchy melodies, Il trovatore is one of the world’s most popular operas. It’s an ideal choice for the first-time opera visitor, as its medley of fabulous arias will showcase the best of the genre in one spectacular session.
As a director, Yoshi Oïda is known for his fusion of Asian heritage and modern European theatre.