Aulis Sallinen
Jorma Hynninen, topi
Päivi Nisula, riika
Finnish National Opera Chorus
Finnish National Opera Orchestra
Mikko Franck, conductor
"a musical drama that hits at the very core of the human condition" - Opera News
This DVD Video features the two-act opera The Red Line ("Punainen viiva"; 1976-78) by Finnish composer Aulis Sallinen. This release pays tribute to the composer's 75th anniversary in 2010.
Aulis Sallinen started a new wave of Finnish opera in the 1970s. His second opera, The Red Line, played a fundamental part in establishing him - and Finnish opera in general - on the international scene. Reproductions of The Red Line in Moscow, London, and at the Met in New York (1983) led to numerous rave reviews ("Aulis Sallinen’s Red Line is the best new opera I have heard in many a year (...) it proved as gripping in its way as Wozzeck or Jenufa” - The New York Times).
Written by the composer, the libretto is based on a 1909 novel of the same name by Ilmari Kianto (1874-1970), which has become a classic in Finland. Set in the North Finnish backwoods region, its story centers on the fate of a poor woodsman, Topi, and his wife, Riika, and deals with the Finnish quest for social justice at the first free elections in 1907, prior to Finland becoming independent in 1917.
This live recording was made in May 2008 at the Finnish National Opera and features legendary baritone Jorma Hynninen, who already headed the Finnish National Opera ensemble in the work's world première performance thirty years earlier. This production is staged by Pekka Milonoff, with Eeva Ijäs signing for the set design, Erika Turunen for the costume design, and Juha Westman for the lighting design. The Tsuumi Dance Company performs a choreography by Ari Numminen. Artistic director Mikko Franck conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Finnish National Opera, as well as the following cast of Finnish soloists:
Topi – a Crofter JORMA HYNNINEN
Riika – his Wife PÄIVI NISULA
Sake – First Child TUOMO NISULA
Raakeli – Second Child SANNI VILMI
Iita-Linta Maria – Third Child OLIVIA AINALI
Puntarpää – the Agitator AKI ALAMIKKOTERVO
Simana Arhippaini – a Pedlar HANNU FORSBERG
Vicar PERTTI MÄKELÄ
Young Priest TUOMAS TULOISELA
Kaisa ANNA-LISA JAKOBSSON
Raappana – the Cobbler TAISTO REIMALUOTO
Kunilla – his Wife REA MAURANEN
Epra ARI GRÖNTHAL
Jussi MARKO PUUSTINEN
Tiina LEENA LIIMATAINEN
Constable Pirhonen KAI VALTONEN
Fate JARMO RASTAS
The recorded production has been hailed by the international press ("The Red Line is a work of both national and universal significance" - Opera Magazine; "The sold-out performances and the warm reception of the audience in Helsinki cannot be attributed merely to national pride; the audible sobs and charged stillness as the curtain fell were testament to a musical drama that hits at the very core of the human condition" - Opera News).
This recording was directed for video by Aarno Cronvall, with Teuvo Karhu as Director of Photography. A co-production of the Finnish National Opera, the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE, and Ondine, this is the first commercial audio-video release of this opera on DVD.
This DVD's bonus features include interviews with composer Aulis Sallinen, stage director Pekka Milonoff, conductor Mikko Franck, and lead role performer Jorma Hynninen.
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 Colour 16:9; Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround / PCM Stereo); menu in English/Finnish; subtitles in Finnish/English; extras; booklet with liner notes and synopsis in English and Finnish
Aulis Sallinen gelang (...) eine moderne, über weite Strecken emotional packende Oper ganz im Stile eines Janáceks, der zwichen den (klanglichen) Härten der Welt immer auch Schönheit und Wahrhaftigkeit zeigt. (...) Mikko Franck arbeitet diese Kontraste am Pult der Finnischen Nationaloper gekonnt heraus, der nicht unwesentlich beteiligte Opernchor weiss seine Szenen eindrucksvoll zu gestalten. Jorma Hynninen (...) ist ideal besetzt.
Markus Wilks, Das Opernglas, November 2011
Die Neuinszenierung des eindrucksvollen Werks an der Finnischen Nationaloper liegt nun in einer technisch makellosen Aufnahme vom Mai 2008 auf DVD vor. Sallinens wandlungsfähige Musiksprache unterstützt die Handlung mit kraftvoller, aber nie aufdringlicher Expressivität und färbt sie mit einem dunklen Tonfall ein. Die Inszenierung fügt die dialogreiche Bilderfolge zu einer kompakten Großform.
Max Nyffeler, Neue Zeitschrift für Musik, 1/2011
La mise en scène et l'excellence des chanteurs finlandais contribuent à faire de cet opéra l'une des grandes œuvres des trente dernières années.
Pierre-Jean Tribot, ResMusica.com, 22.9.2010, La Clef ResMusica.com
Die sehr dichte Neu-Inszenierung am Ort der Uraufführung (...) belegt die theatralische Lebenskraft des Werkes und seine Zeitlosigkeit trotz des historischen Sujets. Man kann nur staunen über die hohe Leistungsfähigkeit des Ensembles. Voran Jorma Hynninen, der Topi der Uraufführung, der die Partie nun dreißig Jahre später mit ungebrochener stimmlicher Kraft und mit knappsten gestischen und mimischen Mitteln bezwingend gestaltet. Mikko Franck zieht mit dem Orchester der Finnischen Nationaloper alle Register.
Ekkehard Pluta, klassik-heute.com, 5.11.2010, 9 • 9 • 9
Baritone Jorma Hynninen is one of the most highly appreciated Finnish vocal artists of all time. His unprejudiced and profound approach to art has contributed not only to a renewal in the art of interpreting solo songs but also to the creation of a number of new contemporary operas. In Lied, he has concentrated on the song cycles of Schubert, Schumann, Brahms and Wolf and the solo songs of Sibelius, Oskar Merikanto, Toivo Kuula and Yrjö Kilpinen. He has appeared at innumerable distinguished venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, the Musikverein, the Concertgebouw, Boston Symphony Hall, Chicago Symphony Hall and the festivals at Tanglewood, Ravinia and Salzburg.
Finnish soprano Päivi Nisula has been a permanent member of the Finnish National Opera ensemble since 1993, when she was voted 'Opera Soloist of the Year' in Finland. She has since performed an extensive repertoire, including Waltraute in Götz Friedrich's Götterdämmerung, Jane Seymour (Anna Bolena) and notably Eboli and Azucena.
Mikko Franck began to play the violin at the age of five and entered Helsinki's Sibelius Academy in 1992, subsequently studying in New York, Israel and Sweden.
Einojuhani 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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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
Info & buyAulis Sallinen
Tommi Hakala, baritone · Jyrki Korhonen, bass · Riikka Rantanen, mezzo-soprano · Lilli Paasikivi, mezzo-soprano · Mari Palo, soprano · Laura Nykänen, contralto · Jyrki Anttila, tenor · Herman Wallén, baritone · Santeri Kinnunen, spoken role · Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra · Okko Kamu, conductor
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Jorma Hynninen, kullervo · Eeva-Liisa Saarinen, mother · Matti Salminen, kalervo · Jorma Silvasti, kimmo · Finnish National Opera Chorus · Finnish National Opera Orchestra · Ulf Söderblom, conductor · (Previously released as ODE 780-3T)
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