The Onnenvirta Opera
What happens when Aada finds her grandmother’s poetry book?
What are the boys planning on their trip to Repovesi? Kotka Market Square is always lively!
How are things at the Voikkaa factory in the early 1900s? Who has a carpentry shop in the Kotka workers’ house? What does the patron of the Kymi factory, Gösta Björkenheim, who has been ordered to stay at home, think? How happy can Mrs. Märta be about her baby being born in the fall?
The Onnenvirta opera answers these questions. Auri-Helena Nikkinen’s opera plays with power and emotion!
The Onnenvirta is a symbol of life.
It will also be at the Kuusankoski Hall in Kouvola on 2.8. The opera, composed by Auri-Helena Nikkinen and directed and written by Eini Annukka Perälä, will have its premiere on 2026 at 4 pm.
THE STORY OF KYMENLAAKSO SOUNDS WITH POWER AND EMOTION
The musical language of the opera is beautiful and almost national romantic. The music flows strongly and emotionally – until occasionally delightful and beautiful melodic passages take the listener with them.
A STORY FROM THE 2000S AND 2000S
The opera tells the story of young people from the 2000s who find their great-grandmother Elsa s diary and the poems she wrote in 1922 as a young woman in Kotka.
The story moves to the Voikkaa factories and the stages of the factory patron Björkenheim and his family. In Kotka, the life of the carpenter Anton Anttila’s family is followed. With joy and sorrow – because we live in a time of civil war.
In the 2000s, music student Aada and history student Jere are searching for themselves and learning about the history of their families.
THE SKILLS THAT MUSIC PROFESSIONALS CAN ENJOY
Onnenvirta Opera is starring the finalists of the 2019 Lappeenranta Singing Competition. Björkenheim’s Märta is played by soprano Marika Hölttä and the role of Anton Anttila is sung by the winner of the men’s series, baritone Jussi Vänttinen.
The role of music student Aada is sung by soprano Matilda Nikkistänen and the role of Jere is sung by young tenor Matti Skyttä.
The role of Anton Anttila’s wife Hilda is sung by lyric-dramatic Eini Annukka Perälä. The demanding role of factory worker Björkenheim is sung by tenor Janne Erkkilä, who is also known from the Finnish National Opera.
Baritone Ville Perkkiö performs several roles, including the role of Jere’s friend Santer, and the role of factory worker Saarinen.
Onnenvirta Opera is conducted by Master of Music Heidi Hämäläinen. The pianist is Esa Ylönen.