Purge premieres at FNO

On 20 April 2012, the Finnish National Opera will premiere Jüri Reinvere's opera Purge, based on Finnish author Sofi Oksanen's bestselling play and novel. The main role of young Aliide will be sung by soprano Helena Juntunen, and several other top Finnish singers will be seen in the other roles.

The story of the opera travels in the history of Estonian people and draws comparisons between the fates of individuals and the society. The Estonian-born composer has written the libretto himself based on Oksanen's original text, freely emphasizing the ways the Estonian people can deal with their past.

In addition to the opera, Sofi Oksanen will take part in the Finnish music scene in the form of a concert series in late April. Oksanen has selected music for symphony concerts, including also a new work by Reinvere, as well as orchestral works by Kaija Saariaho and Lotta Wennäkoski. The second half of the concert introduce new songs composed by Maija Kaunismaa to the poems of Sofi Oksanen. The concerts take place in Jyväskylä and Kuopio in Finland, on 25 and 26 April, respectively.

Merja Hottinen / Fimic
5 April, 2012