ABOUT

The TOVE TEUVALLA opera will have its world premiere in the summer of 2024 as part of the Korsholm Music Festival, performed in Teuva Church.

The events and theme revolve around Tove Jansson's only sacred artwork, the altarpiece "The Ten Virgins" in Teuva Church. The opera's soloists and other artists are among the top in Finland. It promises to be a moving and illuminating piece that connects Tove and Teuva, the individual and the community, while exploring multiple layers of meaning, drawing attention to beauty and hope amidst the struggles of the surrounding world.

The bilingual TOVE TEUVALLA opera will be performed six times in the summer of 2024. The music was composed by Uljas Pulkkis, and the libretto was written by Gunilla Hemming.

ABOUT THE SET AND LIGHT

The Tove Teuvalla opera was staged in Teuva’s modernist church, built after the original burned down in the 1950s. The set design symbolized transition from unfinished to complete, with specially designed wooden scaffolding gradually removed during the performance. The minimalist architecture provided an ideal canvas for light, which played a central role in immersing the audience in historical events. For me, light was not just a tool—it became a presence, an emotion that connected with the audience, drawing them into the experience of the past.

Director Jorma Uotinen’s abstract approach aligned with this vision, using dynamic lighting to evoke emotions. Instead of realistic fire, the burning church scene was bathed in red light, later shifting to blue to highlight the architecture. The altarpiece was specially lit, revealing its gold and colors in a way that astonished locals, leading to a permanent lighting commission.

CAST

Libretto: Gunilla Hemming
Composition: Uljas Pulkkis
Direction: Jorma Uotinen

Conductor: Anna-Maria Helsing
Orchestra: Vaasa City Orchestra
Choir: Vaasa Opera Choir

Lighting and Set Design: Veli-Ville Sivén
Costume Design: Marja Uusitalo
Makeup Design: Mari Vehkaoja
Assistant Director: Riku Lehtopolku
Lighting Assistant: Matias Mukari

Soloists: Mia Heikkinen, Johanna Rusanen, Elli Vallinoja, Tuomas Miettola, Niklas Spångberg, Minna-Sisko Mutanen, Mika Nikander

Photography: Veli-Ville Sivén

REVIEWS AND ARTICLES

https://www.hs.fi/taide/art-2000010605968.html

https://yle.fi/a/74-20102394

NOMINATIONS
Säde nomination for Best Lighting Design category