Force concludes the spring season, presenting a representative cross-section of Finnish contemporary dance. In this quadruple bill, the audience is treated to works by top choreographers Susanna Leinonen, Virpi Pahkinen, Jyrki Karttunen and Jorma Uotinen.
Breaking the Fury
Breaking the Fury by Susanna Leinonen is a celebration of original, uncompromising movement language, focusing on the tensions between individual and community. The music, written by hip hop performer Kasperi Laine for symphony orchestra, combines with the visual and cinematic elements of the work to outline a world of strength where rage and tenderness come together in dance.
Valse triste
Jyrki Karttunen takes a gently humorous view of the environment in his works. The work commissioned from him for this programme is set to Jean Sibelius’s familiar Valse triste. The melancholy waltz underpins a dying mother’s dream of a ball where everything is possible yet also inevitable, and nothing is black and white.
Cantus arcticus
Multiple award winner Virpi Pahkinen is represented with the world premiere of Cantus arcticus, named after the orchestral work by Einojuhani Rautavaara. Written in 1972, Cantus arcticus – which translates as ‘Arctic song’ – is a work for orchestra and taped bird sounds; it is one of the best-known works of Finnish classical music. The bird sounds were recorded in northern Finland, at Liminka and close to the Arctic Circle. Pahkinen’s work is choreographed for two soloists and ensemble.
Jord
Jorma Uotinen’s Jord [Earth] was created in 2005, inspired by the red soil of Australia. With a case of 12 male dancers, the work reflects the gravity of the human body. The work is set to the fascinating, rhythmic music of Apocalyptica, which propels the energy of the dance and creates a powerful emotional charge. Jord was premiered by the FNB in spring 2016.
Breaking the Fury
Choreography
Susanna Leinonen
Music
Kasperi Laine
Conductor
Ainars Rubikis
Costumes
Erika Turunen
Lighting design
Mikki Kunttu
Projection design
Jouka Valkama
Valse Triste
Choreography
Jyrki Karttunen
Music
Jean Sibelius
Conductor
Ainars Rubikis
Set design, lighting design
Kalle Ropponen
Costumes
Erika Turunen
Cantus Arcticus
Choreography
Virpi Pahkinen
Music
Einojuhani Rautavaara
Conductor
Ainars Rubikis
Set design
Juho Lindström
Costumes
Erika Turunen
Lighting design
Tobias Hallgren
Jord
Choreography
Music
Apocalyptica
Set design, lighting design
Mikki Kunttu
Costumes
Erika Turunen
Breaking the Fury
Milla Eloranta
Erika Vilander
Marjaterttu Willman
Jouka Valkama
Atte Kilpinen
Valse Triste
Mother
Mother
Cantus Arcticus
The bog
The bog
Pauline Simon
The bog
Cauê Frias
The bog
Pontus Sundset
Melancholy
Jord
Trio
Trio
Trio
Solo, duets
Duets
Duets
Duets
Force forms part of the official celebrations for the centenary of Finland’s independence.
Sweet and savoury for the season
See what you like: choose your favourites on this season’s rich menu.
Book your refreshments beforehand online or at the Opera Restaurant sales desk; you will have a much wider range to choose from, and you will not have to queue in the interval. Download the seating plan of the Opera Restaurant (PDF).
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