After a 20 year wait, it’s time to bring opera back to the main stage of Turku City Theatre. A story of a turning point in Finnish history, Punainen viiva (Red line) is a co-production of Turku City Theatre, Saaristo-ooppera and Turku Philharmonic Orchestra. Opera is headlined by Finnish opera stars Johanna Rusanen and Waltteri Torikka.
Punainen viiva tells a story of Topi and Riika, a poor couple with a flock of children trying to make ends meet in the early 1900’s in Kainuu, a remote and isolated corner of Finland. When they see signs of the society evolving, they become politically active and start to vote for a better tomorrow.
The story is set in a time when social democracy starts to take Finland by storm and every citizen over 24 years of age is getting the right to vote. But for Topi and Riika this social turmoil does not guarantee a shortcut to happiness.
Based on the classic 1909 novel by Ilmari Kianto, the music is composed and the libretto is made my composer Aulis Sallinen. It premiered in the Finnish National Opera in 1978. Mikko Kouki, the artistic director of Turku City Theatre, is debuting as an opera director, eager to take the challenge.
“Given the fact that this is the first time I am directing opera, I hope to learn something new. For me, Kianto’s story and the time of turmoil in Finnish history was instantly fascinating.” – Mikko Kouki
Now is the perfect time to experience the magic of opera!
