Alma! – kinetic opera
photo: Ville Hautakangas
Based on the award-winning novel by Hanna Weselius Alma! is a kinetic opera about the difficulty of making art.
"You should be writing music instead of organizing Gustav's scherzos and allegros."
The opera gives composer Alma Mahler a voice as a person whose career as a composer was finished too soon. The story of Alma Mahler's life parallels with the struggle of the modern-day character Aino who tries to make her living as an artist.
"Why can't I hold the world in my hands like sand or a rock polished by the sea. Oh why, why can't I brush gently with this soft hand this skin, this light, this room, and this world? Why can't I?"
From the program note:
"Alma! (2019-2020) is a kinetic opera for singers, dancers and instrumental ensemble by composer Minna Leinonen, choreographer-director Petri Kekoni and librettist Hanna Weselius. It tells a story of three women, all characterised by strong emotions - the composer Alma Mahler as the lawyer and the visual artist Aino in the present day.
Music weaves together the multi-layered work of art that examines the woman's position in the past and present into a naturally flowing whole, which has a strong grip on the listener. Different time layers wander around seamlessly side-by-side.
Alma! was nominated for the Nordic Council Music Prize 2022 and Teosto Prize 2022.
Warm thanks for the support: Finnish Cultural Foundation and Finnish Cultural Foundation Pirkanmaa, the Pegasos grant from the Sibelius Foundation
Working group
choreography and direction: Petri Kekoni
composition: Minna Leinonen
libretto: Hanna Weselius
conductor: Jutta Seppinen
sound design: Jussi Suonikko
costume design: Ella Kauppinen
lighting design: Jonne Nieminen and Sari Mayer
premiere 17.2.2021 streamed via keikalla.fi
production: Dance Theatre MD, Petri Kekoni Company, CHANGEnsemble and Tampere Biennale
Performances and links
F.p. stream: 17.2.2022
Olga Heikkilä, soprano (Lawyer)
Tuuli Lindeberg, soprano (Aino)
Suvi Eloranta, soprano-dancer (Alma)
Hanna Kinnunen, flute
Fanny Söderström, piano
Mikko Perkola, viola da gamba
Ville Syrjäläinen, percussion
Jutta Seppinen, conductor
Anders Pohjola, electronics
Dancers from Tanssiteatteri MD and Kekoni Company: Anniina Kumpuniemi, Mari Rosendahl, Samuli Roininen and Esete Sutinen
Listen to the trailer:
Score and parts
Reviews
Minna Leinonen has composed the opera Alma! in such an exquisite and diverse way that the premiere can be seen as her breakthrough as a first-rate opera composer.
Tempo changes in music are vivid, the dramatic eruptions earthmoving and the slow sections dreamlike.
- Harri Hautala, Aamulehti 18.2.2021
Minna Leinonen succeeds in the most essential challenge of opera composing: to put her music into perspective but still keeping her own voice.
Minna Leinonen´s colourful and expressive score moves with a wide range, from nervous swerving to lyrical glow.
- Harri Kuusisaari, Rondo 19.2.2021
Leinonen has composed piercingly glowing, sometimes painfully beautiful, sometimes cruel ironic music.
Juxtaposing and alternating live views of two women is functional, creating fast turns of events, fantasy-like dramaturgy.
The arc of drama Leinonen has built with strong touch.
- Hannu-Ilari Lampila, Helsingin sanomat 18.2.2021
Composer Minna Leinonen holds the chamber opera format together skilfully. Leinonen handles the text content competently.
- Tove Djupsjöbacka, HBL 18.2.2021
Alma! is an excellent work of art. For Minna Leinonen Alma! is a cracking rise into frontline of opera composers. The music of Minna Leinonen is diverse and surprisingly light.
- Katariina Fleming, Tamperelainen 27.2.2021