The libretto of the opera discusses, among other things, the relationship between listening to love songs and the birth rate in Finland.
Yleisradio’s legendary radio program Kansanradio has been transformed into an opera, which will premiere tomorrow, Wednesday, at the Finnish National Opera.
He has also written a libretto based on the stories of those who called Kansanradio. For example, listening to love songs comes to the fore in relation to the birth rate in Finland.
– Death is not done here for half an hour, as in operas in general. This is fast-paced, Väntsi says.
– The texts are sung at a fairly fast tempo, so that everything that can be said can simply fit in there. Here you can make a big melodic expression, a big rhythmic span and big arcs, because a big feeling is enough. Kansanradio gives delicious frames, says Pohjola.
There is also a puppet theater on the stage of the opera
– One caller’s brilliant idea stuck in my mind. Climate rubber pants are purchased for everyone, and when methane emissions occur, they are recovered from the pants in a tank, Tiilikainen says.
The opera also follows the story of an imaginary listener, pensioner Mrs. Aili. He is in a new phase of life, i.e. moving from his home to a service home.
The Kansanradio chamber opera thus combines puppet theater art with chamber opera.
After tomorrow’s premiere, the opera will be performed on Friday and Saturday in the Alminsal of the Finnish National Opera. The opera is a joint production of Teatro Productions Oy and Artsoppa ry.
\”Kansanradio is not a place for crazy people\” – Virpi Suutari made a documentary about the iconic program