Alexander Ekman – Mikael Karlsson
COW
Imagination storms the stage
We all have our own ideas of what a cow is – and we’re all wrong.
COW pulls you along on a high-speed journey that leaves you breathless. Alexander Ekman’s choreography is filled with absurd comedy and satire, yet it is also moving, challenging the audience’s perception of themselves and society.
This surprising contemporary dance piece rolls 12 scenes onto the stage in just 90 minutes. The movement language draws references from neoclassical ballet and Stravinsky’s legendary The Rite of Spring. At the heart of it all is a cow: COW.
COW features recorded music by Ekman’s signature composer, Mikael Karlsson.
When it premiered at the Finnish National Ballet in 2020, COW was met with a rapturous reception. The production, which has been described as an aesthetic fireworks display, makes its highly anticipated return in autumn 2025.
A Dresden Semperoper production.
“COW is a carnival of beautiful stream-of-consciousness dancing, spiced up with absurd twists and allegories.”
– Helsingin Sanomat newspaper, 2020
What a Cow Is?
The radical liberator of ballet
gallery
creative team
cast
Cast will be published later.
Listen to Cow
You must accept functional cookies to listen to the playlist. To modify your cookie settings, go to cookie settings at the bottom of the page.
Pricing
Ticket categories: standard ticket / pensioner / student / military or non-military service member / youth (aged 20 and under)
Price categories: seating in the auditorium is divided into eight price categories (A–H) based on visibility. Ticket prices vary depending on the seat location, performance date, and demand. The lowest price categories (F–H) are only available for standard tickets.
Same-day discounted tickets are available for €30 for visitors aged 20 and under, students, military or non-military service members, unemployed persons, pensioners and senior citizens aged 65 or over, subject to availability. These discounted tickets can be purchased for stalls seating, starting 12 hours before the performance.
Standard, youth, student, and pensioner tickets include a flexible exchange option up to 24 hours before the performance. If you exchange your ticket, the value will be credited to your customer account as a balance for future use.
Tickets and performances
the keys to an entertaining evening
Order refreshments
Enjoy refreshments
before the show
or in the interval.
See the diverse menu
and place an order
in advance.
Programme booklets
Programme booklets
are sold by our
customer services,
the Opera Restaurant,
and our lobby
personnel for 7 euros.
Arriving at the Opera House
The Opera House
is located by the
Töölönlahti bay at
Helsinginkatu 58.
Learn the easiest
ways to get here.
Accessible seats
You can purchase accessible tickets online or via our customer services. Learn more about
accessibility at
the Opera House.