Kari Tikka
Esa Ruuttunen, Martin Luther
Lassi Virtanen, devil
Eeva-Liisa Saarinen, Käthe
Viva Vox Chorus
New Young Chamber Orchestra
Kari Tikka, conductor
Jussi Tapola, stage director
The first DVD release of a Finnish classical opera
This DVD Video features the two-act opera Luther by Finnish composer and conductor Kari Tikka, who also wrote the libretto with the collaboration of Jussi Tapola. It tells the life story of the German theologian and church reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546).
This live recording was made in May 2003 at the Temppeliaukion Kirkko ("Rock Church") in Helsinki, where the work's world première had earlier taken place in December 2000. The Finnish National Opera production is staged by Jussi Tapola, with conductor Kari Tikka leading a cast of soloists from the Opera.
Esa Ruuttunen: Martin Luther
Lassi Virtanen: Devil
Eeva-Liisa Saarinen: Käthe (Katharina von Bora)
Merja Wirkkala: Ave von Schönfeld
Aki Alamikkotervo: Brother Sebastian
Andrus Mitt: Frederick the Wise, Prince Elector of Saxony.
The DVD bonus features include an introduction to the work by the composer and the performers, as well as a presentation of the world-famous Rock Church.
A co-production of the Finnish National Opera and Ondine, this is the first release for commercial international distribution of any Finnish classical opera on DVD.
This all-regions NTSC disc is designed for worldwide playback. In PAL regions (e.g. Europe, Australasia & Africa) ensure your DVD player and TV are PAL/NTSC compatible ("dual-standard").
1 DVD Video (all regions; NTSC Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround / PCM Stereo); menu in English/Finnish; subtitles in English/German/Swedish/Finnish; extras; booklet with liner notes and synopsis in English, German, Swedish and Finnish
Jaakko Kuusisto
Toni Wahlström, Lemminkäinen (a cat) · Jukka Romu, Väinämöinen (a dog) · Juha Hostikka, Ilmarinen (a dog) · Eija Ahvo, Lemminkäinen's mother · Tiina Sinkkonen, Louhi (a wolf) · Mari Palo, tytti · Sami Vartiainen, Mr. Clutterbuck · The Canine Kalevala Choir · Kuopio Symphony Orchestra · Jaakko Kuusisto, conductor · watch YouTube trailer
Info & buyEinojuhani Rautavaara
Jorma Hynninen, Aleksis Kivi · Janne Reinikainen, August Ahlqvist · Riikka Rantanen, charlotta · Pauliina Linnosaari, hilda · Ville Rusanen, Young Alexis · Tobias Zilliacus, J.L. Runeberg · Finnish National Opera Orchestra · Mikko Franck, conductor
Info & buyAulis Sallinen
Jorma Hynninen, topi · Päivi Nisula, riika · Finnish National Opera Chorus · Finnish National Opera Orchestra · Mikko Franck, conductor
Info & buyEinojuhani Rautavaara
Matti Salminen, rasputin · Lilli Paasikivi, Tsarina Alix · Jorma Hynninen, Tsar Nicholas · Jyrki Anttila, Felix Yusupov · Finnish National Opera Orchestra · Finnish National Opera Chorus · Mikko Franck, conductor
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