My brother's keeper in Tampere Hall, the 18th of February, 2018

A hundred years ago Finland was at a civil war. The country had gained its independence the previous year and in the aftermath of the Russian revolution also in Finland the reds and the whites started fighting. The fighting was especially serious in the industrial city of Tampere. One of the most looked forward new operas of this year is “My brother’s keeper” opera by Olli Kortekangas in the Tampere Opera. It tells about the civil war in Tampere, about a sister and a brother who end up on different sides in the civil war. The story is not true, but it could be. None of the main characters survive the war without damages: some die and everybody suffers. When the background for the story is so impressive, one automatically expects also a strong narrative and partly it was that. The story of the sister and brother reflects the division of the nation, but to be quite honest I wasn’t impressed by Tuomas Parkkinen’s libretto. What added value was rhyming supposed to bring to the story? Parkkinen was also the director of the opera.

However, Tampere being one of the main characters of the opera did bring something extra to it. Many of the scenes had happened only some stone throws away from Tampere Hall, where the opera was performed. Since I am not from that area myself, big part of the hints were moot to me, but during the intermission I discussed with an opera friend of mine, who has ties to the area and she shed more light to the Tampere aspect.

The stage setting was designed by Kati Lukka, costume design was made by Tarja Simone and light design by Ville Syrjä. They managed to create a very impressive background to the performance; a grey world except the red arm bands of the reds. The music of the opera was clearly composed to support the story line. There were dramatic moments, but also more restrained parts when characters of the opera were pondering abour their life. Sometimes the orchestra was totally silent. The conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra was Santtu-Matias Rouvali and choir parts were sung by Tampere Opera Choir. I have to give special credit to the choir; the song “Mustaa, mustaa” (Black, black) was one of the most formidable moments of the opera.

In this opera the main role was again played by the singers. Tuuli Takala sang the role of Amanda Rossi without a single mistake. Tuomas Katajala in the role of her husband, Iisakki Friman, did his usual steady performance. Erica Back in the role of Serafina Suomi did an excellent performance as well as Suvi Väyrynen in the role of Onni Kontio. But the most touching performance of the evening was Juha Kotilainen in the role of Johannes Rossi. When he sang the aria “Ken miekkaan tarttuu” (For all who draw the sword), even the constant coughing of the flu season in the audience ceased. How Kotilainen puts his soul in the performance can only be admired!