JOONAS KOKKONEN: THE LAST TEMPTATIONS

Thursday 29.05.2025 at 7pm

Opera in two acts, semistaged

Music Joonas Kokkonen
Libretto Lauri Kokkonen
Conductor Esa Heikkilä
Director Jukka Saarman
Costume design Kaija El ibourki

Kuopio Symphony Orchestra
Vox Polaris choir
Choir conductor Jaana Turunen

Roles:
Paavo Ruotsalainen – Juha Pikkarainen
Riitta – Johanna Rusanen
Blacksmith – Raimo Laukka
Juhana – Olavi Suominen
1. man – Jukka Saarman
2. man – Jukka Lahtinen
3. man – Henri Jussila
1. woman – Minna-Leena Lahti
2. woman – Olivia Kyllönen
3. woman – Eeva Semerdijev
Anna-Loviisa – Marja Jäppinen
Albertiina – Silvia Luippunen

The opera is performed in Finnish

The Last Temptations, composed by Joonas Kokkonen, is a primal spiritual depiction of the revival leader Paavo Ruotsalainen, and it has become a classic of Finnish opera over the years. The Last Temptations has been performed almost 300 times – even abroad, including the Metropolitan. The opera takes place in the home of Paavo and his wife Riitta, at Aholansaari in Nilsiä.

The Last Temptations was composer Joonas Kokkonen’s only opera. In the opera, based on the play of the same name, Paavo Ruotsalainen lies on his deathbed and relives the most crucial moments of his life in his delirium.

Duration approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, including a short interval.

Produced by the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra

Tickets: 40 € / 35 € senior citizens and groups min. 20 persons / 20 € children under the age of 16 and students and young people under the age of 20

Prices include the Kuopio Music Centre service fee 2 € / ticket. The service fees vary depending on the place of purchase.