Every year throughout July, the Finnish city of Savonlinna hosts world-class musicians, opera performers, directors and conductors. At this time, an international cultural event is held there - an opera festival.
This festival is one of the best and world-famous music forums. It takes place in the medieval Olavinlinna Castle, located on an island in the town of Savolinna. Especially for this event, a huge covered stage and an auditorium that can accommodate more than two thousand people are being erected in the courtyard of the fortress. And the castle itself turns into a real musical theater during the Opera Festival.
The history of this musical forum began 100 years ago - in 1912. It was then that the famous Finnish singer and owner of the beautiful soprano Aino Akte organized the first opera festival, at which works by Finnish composers were performed. It was held until the mid-30s, and then a forty-year hiatus followed. The festival resumed in 1967 with opera courses organized as part of this musical festival. Since then, the festival has become an international cultural event, attended by about 60 thousand people annually. The world famous soloists of the National Opera of Finland consider it an honor to perform here.
Throughout July, at Olavinlinna Castle you can hear famous works performed by the best musicians and opera performers, both Finnish and foreign. All operas are performed in the original, and a special electronic scoreboard shows captions in Finnish and English.
A novelty of the festival program is an opera singing competition among performers from all over the world. 20 people are allowed to participate in it, 6 of whom are selected for the competition in the main competition. Finalists receive the right to perform with the Opera Festival Orchestra and cash prizes.
In 2012, the Savonlinna Opera Festival celebrates its 100th anniversary. In honor of this significant event, all guests of the holiday will have a grandiose anniversary concert, which will leave behind a lot of amazing impressions and vivid emotions.
