”The general perception of French music seems to be that it’s light, ethereal, sometimes even jolly, distinctly lacking violence or harshness. However, we too can be harsh in our music." Conductor Patrick Fournillier introduces you three musical gems from 20th century French composers.
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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!
Carolyn Carlson tells about Pneuma.
The master work of romantic ballet, Giselle, has been a regular item in the repertoire of the Finnish National Ballet from the company’s founding years. Giselle returns to the repertoire of the Finnish National Ballet in spring 2018.
In 1847, Marie Duplessis died in Paris at only 23 years of age. The beautiful courtesan was immortalised as the protagonist of the opera La Traviata. Read more!
I was heavily influenced by the 1936 movie Camille, starring Greta Garbo and Robert Taylor, as well as the novel by Alexandre Dumas, fils, La Dame aux Camélias.
Love, death, nature and the mystery of life are themes that recur in Kaija Saariaho’s music every since her youthful works, and they maintain a strong presence today, in the 2010s. At the same time, the key element in her music – tonal colour – has become increasingly significant: the lucid is more lucid than ever, and the dark hues are darker still.
Holten brings a decidedly different interpretation to The Flying Dutchman, revealing new aspects of this familiar classic.
Natália Horečná’s take on an ancient story “Francinka, Milushka, Serioshka, Anyushka...” We are at a rehearsal for Romeo and Juliet in the ballet hall at the Opera House, and Slovakian-born choreographer Natália Horečná addresses the dancers affectionately by the diminutive forms of their first names – very typical for this