Opera on a Lake in a Finnish Castle …Yes, it’s Real!
The Festival's new production will be The Horseman featuring up-and-coming Finnish artists. And the visiting opera from the Gran Teatre del Liceu of Barcelona will perform a Spanish Night devoted to a concert version of Granados's Goyescas, some arias and the best of zarzuela. A series of enchanting children's operas, Canine Kalevala, popularly referred to as "the canine national epic" will have two extra performances in 2005. Aida, Turandot and Tales of Hoffmann are among the many operas that shall delight audiences at Savonlinna this summer.
Juhanantupa captures Finland's Karelian roots as well as ties to Finland's national epic Kalevala, which provided layers of inspiration for J.R.R Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings". www.savonlinna.fi Directions, Tours, and Other Useful InformationThere are many ways a traveler can get to Savonlinna from Helsinki: train, bus, rental, car or plane. During the festival season Finnair and Golden Air operate special flights jointly to speed opera audiences between Helsinki and Savonlinna in less than one hour; same day return flights run about 153 euros including tax and fees. www.finnair.com. Express trains take less than five hours www.vr.com and there is daily coach service. Independent travelers staying overnight in Savonlinna can take special buses available from many local hotels to the castle for evening performances. For hotel information visit the Savonlinna Opera web site listed below. For information about Savonlinna visit www.savonlinna.fi For information about travel to Finland contact The Finnish Tourist Board 212-885-9700; Fax 212-885-9710; e-mail: mek.usa@mek.fi , www.visitfinland.com/na , www.finlandkingsroad.com . Edited by Erika Wright |
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The Savonlinna Opera Festival is to take place this summer in Olavinlinna Castle nestled in Finland's idyllic eastern Lake District July 8-Aug 6, 2005. In a world ever lacking in feeling and compassion, "it is up to art to arouse emotions and revive our ability to empathize," says Jan Hultin, General Director of the festival.
Opera goers visiting Savonlinna will find the castle's magic echoed in all corners of this Lakeland region. At Retretti nature weds art in the unlikeliest of ways. The largest art center in the North, Retretti has art galleries above ground and below in subterranean caverns blasted out of solid ground. Hiking and nature walks are easy and fun in the area's two national parks and the splendid moraine ridge at Punkaharju formed during the Ice Age. Educational visits can be made to an ostrich farm, a zoo, an arboretum, a bird sanctuary, a sheep farm, the Kerimäki Fishing Museum, a national museum of forest culture, colorful markets, quaint churches, a provincial museum that tells the compelling history of sailing in the Lake Saimaa area. Raikku Canal and other war exhibitions commemorate Finnish bravery and sacrifice during World War II. There are even pockets of "Elvin" magic!