Oopperakammari ry

The four day camp of the Alvilda in Abo group at the Saari Residence was the opera production’s first intensive work period.

To begin, the production team prepared the production’s stage settings and a specified work plan for the eleven months to follow. Becoming acquainted with the musical score was next in line. This was done with the soloists and clowns by singing arias. Improvised dance rehearsals helped us to explore the spirit of the story. We also sought the baroque spirit in character performances in the cellar of the main building. This all was balanced out with an ambience reminiscent of Sibelius and the observation of the fall migration of geese from the shore’s bird tower.

This opera, L’Amazzone corsara, overo L’Alvilda Regina de’ Goti (The Pirate Amazon Alvilda, Queen of the Goths, 1692) by Carlo Agostino Badia, which had laid hidden in the archives for 319 years, now rose valiantly to catch wind in the focused atmosphere of the Saari Residence.

The premiere of the Alvilda opera is on 5 August, 2011 at the Turku Castle. The opera is part of the programme of the Turku Music Festival and Turku’s year as the European Capital of Culture. Title roles are played by Mari Palo, Riku Pelo, Kaisa Ranta, Teppo Lampela, Anneliina Koskinen, Jussi Merikanto, and Sören Lillkung. The opera is directed by Ville Sandqvist, conducted by Anssi Mattila and choreographed by Kirsi Saastamoinen. Other important members include Tuomas Lampinen (costumes), William Iles (lights) and music is provided by the Finnish Baroque Orchestra. The dancing clown group is comprised of Riku Nieminen, Oula Kitti, Jenni Kitti, Maria Kananen, Jonna Aaltonen, and Jukka Tarvainen. The producer is Liisa Mattila (Oopperakammari ry. / Kulttuuridynamo) and background research is coordinated by Totti Tuhkanen from Turku University.