Lovers of opera and ballet will be pampered this week in Rovaniemi. Mini opera In addition to the Magic Flute, babies are offered music from the Romeo and Juliet ballet and a taste of famous operas.
– I’m really happy that we were able to come on tour with these children’s operas and offer children experiences as well. The capital region also has more to offer for people of this age, and that’s why I think it’s really important that we were able to come here, says Johanna Isokoski.
According to the duo, it’s always fun for children to perform, because the feedback is quick and immediate.
– I love this job because the feedback from the children is immediate, that is, whether they like it or not. Our show is also interactive, which means that children can participate in the course of the show. We have contact with the audience, which is also really different and refreshing for us and gives us a lot of energy, says Isokoski.
In the magic flute, not all the audience’s instructions necessarily lead to the desired outcome. For example, at Monday’s show, the performers and the audience disagreed about how many heart emojis were tapped—fifty or seven.
– That’s a really delicious point. At best, there will be decent choruses, because we don’t understand certain things on stage. And of course the kids tell us that “It’s over there! Why don’t you see it?!\ says Tiitus Ylipää.
\”It’s great to give children their first opera experience\”
The duo wouldn’t mind, even if there will be more tours like this in the future.
– Well, definitely. In my opinion, it seems really important that children here too get to work with children’s opera and become familiar with this art form, says Johanna Isokoski.
– It’s really great that we get to give the children their first experience of opera. If there were more of these, it would be really cool, says Tiitus Ylipää.
In Lapland, many adults probably also appreciate the opportunity to experience opera without having to travel to, for example, Helsinki. Such provincial tours certainly also reduce opera’s reputation as an unnecessarily expensive art form.
– In Finland, classical music, especially opera, may still have an elitist reputation or stigma, but this is a very approachable and fun opera. For example, in this mini-Magic Flute, even adults have played along with the children, says Tiitus Ylipää.
In addition to the magic flute mini-opera, the Finnish National Opera and Ballet’s tour also offers art lessons for babies. Their music and content are related to the ballet Romeo and Juliet.
The main event of the tour will feature the best pieces from well-known operas and ballets. It includes a total of 175 performers.