Aleksis Kivi

Composer: Rautavaara, Einojuhani

Librettist/Text Author: Rautavaara, Einojuhani

Conductor: Franck, Mikko

Orchestra: Finnish National Opera Orchestra

Aleksis Kivi: Hynninen, Jorma

August Ahlqvist: Reinikainen, Janne

Charlotta: Rantanen, Riikka

Hilda: Linnosaari, Pauliina

J.L. Runeberg: Zilliacus, Tobias

Young Aleksis: Rusanen, Ville

Producer: Korhonen, Marcus

Set Designer: Ijas, Eeva

Costume Designer: Pasanen, Niina

Lighting Designer: Westman, Juha

Choreographer: Numminen, Ari

Stage Director: Milonoff, Pekka

Television Director: Kamppila, Hannu

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Date of Production: 2010

Venue: Almi Hall, Helsinki

Playing Time: 01:57:33

Catalogue Number: ODV4009

UPC: 0761195040096

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This video features the three-act opera Aleksis Kivi (1996) by iconic Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara who also wrote the libretto.

The opera tells the story of Finland's national author Aleksis Kivi (1834-1872) and draws on many of Kivi's own poems and texts. Aleksis Kivi wrote the first significant novel in the Finnish language (Seven Brothers), but during his short lifetime he suffered from moral and artistic condemnation by literary rivals. He died, insane and impoverished, at age 38.

This Finnish National Opera production is conducted by Mikko Franck and staged by Pekka Milonoff and features Jorma Hynninen in the lead role. Hynninen, upon whose request the opera was written, already headed the casts at the opera's world premiere performance in 1997, as well as for the acclaimed premiere CD recording in 2002.