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The Sugar Factory – New Opera Works

about
Selection of participants
Contact details

The Finnish National Opera, with generous support from the Finnish Cultural Foundation, is launching The Sugar Factory – New Opera Works. This programme is designed to nurture the collaborative development and presentation of new opera, connecting the art form to our time and place.

New operas as collaborations

The Sugar Factory wishes to bring together creative minds to explore what contemporary opera can be today, and to open opera to a diverse range of artistic voices. We invite composers, writers, directors, designers, and other creative artists to collaborate in teams to create new short operas.

This is an opportunity to work alongside professional singers, instrumentalists, and theatre practitioners to experiment, innovate, and bring fresh ideas to opera. The period will culminate in performances of 10–20-minute chamber works by artist from the Finnish National Opera ensemble.

Each year, twelve artists will be selected through an Expression of Interest process. No prior experience in opera is required. 

The participants for the first round have been chosen. The next open call will open in spring 2026.

Selection of participants

The participants will be selected by a panel appointed by Thomas de Mallet Burgess, Artistic Director of the Finnish National Opera. Applicants are invited to apply as individuals rather than as teams.

The selected artists will form creative teams of three—a composer, a writer, and a director or dramaturg—to develop a new short opera. No prior experience in writing opera is required although the selection panel will assess applicants based on their demonstrated skills in their respective fields. Participants are expected to work independently and in teams outside the programme dates to develop their pieces for presentation.

The process will be guided by internationally experienced professionals in new opera production, alongside the singers, technical staff, and administrative teams of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet.

Creative process and mentoring

The Sugar Factory aims to produce four new operas annually, but its core focus is on the creative process and mentorship of the participants.

The programme will invite experts in the field of developing and creating new work to support, challenge and mentor participants throughout their creative journey.

Diversity and inclusion are central to The Sugar Factory. They help bring new voices and perspectives into opera.

Audiences will experience new works at the Almi Hall of the Finnish National Opera. The program launches in autumn 2025, with the first performances in autumn 2026.

More information:

Tinja Salmi, project manager
050 438 3585, tinja.salmi@opera.fi

Questions? 

Please contact tinja.salmi@opera.fi 
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