When all that’s left is love

Imagine a future where every conceivable horror has come to pass: a nuclear disaster, extinct species, oceans filled with plastic, and superpowers oppressing weaker nations. There’s no more mail, press, or data networks. Rumours and beliefs thrive. This is the reality in which Antti and Anna live. What happens to love in the shadow of oppression?

Seen for the first time at the Finnish National Opera, Aulis Sallinen’s (b. 1935) 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.

fanfare at the performances

Aulis Sallinen composed a fanfare to mark the 60th anniversary of the Orchestra of the Finnish National Opera. There are different versions of the fanfare: a longer one for full symphony orchestra or sinfonietta, and shorter arrangements for brass, woodwinds, and strings. The fanfare premiered in its full orchestral form at the orchestra’s 60th anniversary concert at Musiikkitalo in Helsinki on 22 August 2023.

A version for brass will be performed as interval music during performances of the opera The Horseman.

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synopsis

In the midst of a war between Sweden and Russia, Finland finds itself caught as a battleground between the two powers. Here, people must either live in near enslavement or collaborate with the occupiers as bureaucrats or tradesmen. This is the world in which Antti and Anna find themselves. What happens to love in the face of oppression?

Full synopsis and other background information can be found in the programme leaflet.

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