News

Soprano Helena Juntunen debuts as Tatyana in Eugene Onegin

In January 2012 soprano Helena Juntunen will make her role debut as Tatyana Larina in opera Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky in Vaasa City Theatre, Finland. Baritone Ville Rusanen will be heard in the title role. The Vaasa City Orchestra is conducted by Jukka Iisakkila and the stage director is Vilppu Kiljunen. The premiere will be on 5th January 2012 and the last performance in on 11th February, eleven performance together. Read more. / Pictures.

Sparkling Rossini opens the FNO's Spring season

"Dario Fo is a legend of Italian theatre. His production of Il viaggio a Reims is a colourful satire levelled at Europe in our times too."

Mezzo-soprano Merja Mäkelä will make her debut at the FNO and her role debut as Marchioness Melibea in Dario Fo's sparkling production of Rossini's Il viaggio a Reims. Ms. Mäkelä shares the role with mezzo-soprano Essi Luttinen. Read more.

Julius Caesar at the Finnish National Opera

The Finnish audience is thrilled about the news to enjoy baroque opera at the FNO, Julius Caesar by Handel in January and February 2012:

FNO: "This much-anticipated baroque opera will hit the Finnish National Opera Main Stage in a new, exciting guise. While the music is performed as originally written on authentic period instruments, the visualization of the opera will utilize innovative state-of-the-art lighting and projection technology.

The ever-inventive Ville Saukkonen is scheduled to direct, while the lighting design will be carried out by Patrick Woodroffe, one of the most prominent lighting professionals in the field today, whose credits include Michael Jackson and Rolling Stones concerts in addition to numerous operas and ballets."

Helsinki Baroque Orchestra is conducted by Howard Arman. Among international soloists are Franco Fagioli, Claire Meghnagi, Katarina Leoson, Alon Harari and from Festium; Teppo Lampela, Riku Pelo and Marko Nykänen.


Mezzo-soprano Essi Luttinen debuts at the Den Nye Opera, Bergen

Finnish mezzo-soprano Essi Luttinen debuts at the Den Nye Opera, Bergen in February 2012. She will sing the role of Aloés at the opera of L'Étoile by Chabrier. The Norwegian premiere will be on 4th February 2012 and the four performances together are on 4th / 6th / 8th and 9th February at the Grieghallen in Bergen. Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Emmanuel Plasson and Mark Damos is stage director.

Den Nye Opera: "Man cannot live by champagne alone - he also needs the music of Emmanuel Chabrier." -The Washington Post.

La Belle Époque meets Broadway razzle-dazzle in Mark Lamos's production of this rare operatic gem. The stylish staging, inspired by Toulouse-Lautrec, brings the famous can-can girls to life with the sparkling choreography of Seán Curran.

L'Étoile (Star) takes place in a fairytale world full of twists and turns and absurd comedy. Nonetheless, Emmanuel Chabriers opera was considered a musical masterpiece, admired by Debussy, Ravel and Stravinsky. In recent decades, L'Étoile has had a growing popularity worldwide." Read more.

Soprano Johanna Rusanen-Kartano debuts as Venus in Tannhäuser by Wagner

Soprano Johanna Rusanen-Kartano will make her role debut as Venus in the Tampere House's production of Tannhäuser by Richard Wagner. Hannu Lintu conducts the Tampere Philharmonics Orchestra and Vilppu Kiljunen is a stage director. Among other soloists are Richard Decker (Tannhäuser), Elisabeth Strid (Elisabeth), Gabriel Suovanen (Wolfram, Ville Rusanen (Biterolf) and Petri Bäckström (Heinrich von Schreiber).

Johanna Juhola & Unto Tango Orchestra in Bludenz, Austria

Accordionist Johanna Juhola has been invited to perform at the Remise Bludenz, Austria on 9th March 2012. Ms. Juhola will perform with some members of Unto Tango-orkesteri, pianist Timo Alakotila, bassist Hannu Rantanen and vocalist Pirjo Aittomäki. The concert is a part of serie "Fremde Nähe". Concert starts at 8pm local time.

Soprano Helena Juntunen sings Ladies' room by Perttu Haapanen in London

FIMIC NEWS: "The Philharmonia Orchestra of London will give the UK premiere of Perttu Haapanen's work Ladies' Room on 15 March. Haapanen's work is part of a series titled "Music of Today", consisting of contemporary music concerts selected by composer Unsuk Chin. All of the concerts take place in the Royal Festival Hall, with free admission.

Haapanen's work was originally composed for the Musica nova Helsinki Festival in 2007 and revised in 2008. Ladies' Room is written for soprano and chamber orchestra, using texts from various sources, from Scotland Yard archives to the Bible to Google. The UK premiere will be sung by soprano Helena Juntunen, who has already performed the work in many countries, including the Republic of Korea last autumn." Read more.

New co-operation partner:

Festium is happy to announce that dramatic soprano Jenni Lättilä has started the co-operation with the Good Company Artists Management in Stockholm Sweden. Good Company is run by Maria Dalayman (maria@goodcompany.se). Good Company represents Ms. Lättilä worldwide excluding Finland.


New Classical artists joined to Festium

Festium is happy to announce that the following young and talented artists has joined to the Festium Artist's Management (2011):

Soprano Olga Nikolskaja-Heikkilä
Mezzo-soprano Merja Mäkelä (together with KulturKontur Regine Dierse)
Tenor Petri Bäckström

Latest Releases by Festium artists:

Coming out next: Second solo CD from Las Chicas del Tango...

Milla Viljamaa solo album "Minne" LISTEN "Myrsky kuumailmapallossa"

FIMIC 13 Sept 2011:"In addition to the long tradition, Finnish folk music is also about a personal voice and creative musical expression, immanent in all of the albums mentioned. This feature is especially highlighter with the second solo album, Minne (MVCD001), of keyboardist Milla Viljamaa, known for his several tango groups and other ensembles. The new album explores the area between reality and fantasy with imaginative sound effects and charming tunes."

Johanna Juhola Reaktori: Tango Roto Live (Released on 11 Dec, 2010)

ALBA Records 11/2010: Jean Sibelius, "Intimate Landscapes for piano, pianist Tuija Hakkila

Eduardo and his Brazilian Aeroplane: Bo Kaspers (incl. Johanna Juhola)

ARC MUSIC / Fg-Naxos: Tango-Orchestra Unto, "Cold love"

IMOGENA Records: "Let It Go" by jazzmusician Emma Larsson

TEXICALLI Records: "Fantasiatango" by accordionist Johanna Juhola

Festium Oy has moved to a new address:

Festium Office has moved to a new address from 15th March 2011: Eteläinen Hesperiankatu 8 B 36, 00100 Helsinki