Opera Skaala is
showing once again in Kaapelitehdas a less traditional opera production. This
year the opera “Vierge Moderne” is called an electronic monologue opera. I am
not quite sure, if I would call it myself an opera, even though it is sung by
an opera singer – Essi Luttinen: in the beginning the music reminded me of
Nightwish when Tarja Turunen was still their singer and later it occasionally
reminded me even of the European Song Contest.
“Vierge Moderne” tells
with the help of electronic music, song and dance about the life of poet Edith
Södergran. It was quite clear that the opera had been composed to Essi
Luttinen, since it fit like a glove to her voice. I also liked very much the
videos that were projected on the white curtains that surrounded the stage.
They created the different environments of the scenes in Södergran’s life (a
beach, a city etc). Even though the scenes were most of the time played as
vague pictures and through dance, it was – with the help of the programme –
rather easy to follow the story.
The most fabulous part
of the opera were, however, Edith Södergran’s poems. Her whole life was sung
through in the words of her own poems. Exquisite text and when the music suited
the text, the result was charming. I especially liked the second poem “Kärlek”,
were somewhat more simple music and beautiful singing was combined with a
lovely poem about love.
From the point of view
of the music the evening was a bit ambiguous. Partly the music succeeded to create
lovely scenes with the text, but especially in the end it became far too
electronic to my taste. But there were enough successful elements in the opera,
so that I can definitely recommend it to those people who are not only
interested it the old classics. There are still plenty of performances left and
tickets are available at www.tiketti.fi.
 |
| Turbiinisali |
 |
| Essi Luttinen and Minttu Pietila |
