AINO
The Finnish National Opera
had a concert performance of Erkki Melartin’s opera Aino that had its first
night in 1909. I practically walked in the clouds after the evening and I can
only ask how is it possible that this opera is performed so seldom; the last
performance in Helsinki was in the 1940’s!
Melartin’s music was
gorgeous: leitmotivs à la Wagner floated in the air one after another already
in the prologue. From time to time the music reminded me of old Finnish black
and white movies: nature in the summer and the approaching storm, which, of
course, suited perfectly the theme of Aino’s spiritual birch and Väinö as the
son of the nature spirit Luonnotar. The orchestra of the National Opera and
conductor Klaus Mäkelä really made Melartin’s music come alive.
The group of soloists
was also absolutely amazing. Personally I adored Juha Kotilainen as Väinö. In
addition to the fantastic voice, he really became Väinö, reflecting with his
whole body, gestures and facial expressions Väinö’s emotions (and this was a
concert performance!). Wow, what a performance! Helena Juntunen as Aino was
also excellent. Especially in the beginning of the second act her singing was
unbelievably touching. If you did not get goosebumps then, you had to be made
of stone. All the soloists were good, but these two were to me above the others.
I have heard comments
that it would be difficult to make an actual opera performance out of this
opera, since there are too few things happening and singing is mostly in the
style of the epic poetry of Kalevala. I would just like to say that that is
poppycocks. I am absolutely certain that a suitably creative team could –
especially with the help of modern technique – make an absolutely amazing
version of this opera also on the stage. I sincerely hope the Finnish National
Opera will later make such a version of Aino, too, in addition to this fine
concert version. I am really looking forward to that!
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| The performers |
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| The programme (copyright the Finnish National Opera) |
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