What happens to love in the face of oppression? Seen for the first time at the Finnish National Opera, Aulis Sallinen’s The Horseman takes audiences on a journey to a dystopian future. Jussi Nikkilä’s direction featuring Finland’s top singers promises a compelling interpretation of one of the country’s landmark operatic works.
In an uprising on a farm, a group of animals overthrow their farmer’s tyrannical reign. Little by little, their new society begins to mirror human civilisation, and their original principles of equality are cast aside.
Animal Farm, based on George Orwell’s famous novel, was first performed in Amsterdam in the spring of 2023, quickly earning acclaim from audiences and critics alike. This impactful opera is an experience unlike anything seen before at the Finnish National Opera.
The dancers of the Finnish National Ballet will take on a dual role as choreographers, as the Ballet Workshop returns to Almi Hall after a long wait! The workshop evening is all about contemporary pieces created and produced by the dancers of the Finnish National Ballet themselves, delivering a multifaceted experience of varying themes, visuals, and dance styles.
The young dancers’ evening of the Finnish National Ballet offers a captivating mix of the classic and contemporary. The highlight of the evening is the premiere of German choreographer Marco Goecke’s Blushing, the winner of the 2003 Prix Dom Pérignon, which was originally created for the Stuttgart Ballet. In addition to Blushing, the evening features excerpts of the ballet La Bayadère, and select contemporary dance pieces.
T(r)anssi is an evening that showcases the works of four of the most influential choreographers of our times: William Forsythe, Sharon Eyal, and the team of Paul Lightfoot and Sol León. It captivates the audience with its unique blend of movement, emotion, and mental energy.
Édith Piaf’s extraordinary life has left a lasting musical legacy that continues to be cherished decades later. This new ballet offers a caleidoscopic portrait of Édith Piaf’s life. It tells a true story while exploring the depths of the protagonist’s emotions.
Political scheming, a harrowing love triangle, and magnificent music. In Don Carlos, Elisabeth is married to King Philip of Spain, but her heart belongs to his son, Don Carlos. Yet, the political machinations of the state prove more powerful than their profound emotions.
In this opera classic, love and politics give rise to Verdi’s affecting melodies. Merging the themes of unattainable love and the desire for freedom, Don Carlos emerges as one of Verdi’s most intricately woven operas. The stunning new production premieres at the Finnish National Opera in spring 2025.
Leevi Madetoja’s The Ostrobothnians (”Pohjalaisia”) is often called Finland’s national opera, and rightly so. It’s a story about persistence, human rights, and freedom. Pohjalaisia was first performed in 1924. A century later, it reminds us of the timeless nature of stories that stir the human soul.
Now, The Ostrobothnians has been reinterpreted by some of Finland’s leading creatives. In his first opera, director Paavo Westerberg moves the story forward with cinematic impact. The set design is reminiscent of classic Westerns, in the style of the Coen brothers.
Death in Venice by John Neumeier tells the story of a choreographer searching for direction in his life and art. In plague-ridden Venice, he encounters the strikingly beautiful young Tadzio. A storm of emotions erupts, where suppressed desires, hidden longings, and the ideal of pure love rage.
Giuseppe Verdi’s Messa da Requiem takes to the stage in a sensational co-production of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet.
