Tapani Plathan

When private love affairs become entangled in public political intrigue, the outcome is often tragic. The protagonists have no choice but to watch helplessly as they suddenly become a pawn in a game they thought they could control. With Love & Politics, Dan Turdén embarks on his position as artistic director of Norrlandsoperan. The opera performance compellingly combines four Verdi operas based on Friedrich Schiller's plays - Don Carlo, I masnadieri, Luisa Miller and Giovanna d’Arco - into a reflection on the many faces of love caught up in political power games.

One moment the singer Floria Tosca is standing on the stage, next moment she is the key figure in a deadly political intrigue sparked by jealousy and the craving for power. Giacomo Puccini’s thriller continues to captivate audiences to this day. Helsinki presents an audacious new production of this classic directed by Christof Loy. Award-winning German director Christof Loy promises a new and original vision of Puccini’s masterpiece. Lithuanian soprano Aušrinė Stundytė has the title role for the 2018/19 season, Italian tenor Andrea Carè plays the artist Cavaradossi and Finnish baritone Tuomas Pursio the power-hungry Scarpia. The conductor is Patrick Fournillier.