The Finnish National Ballet 2022-2023 season was just announced along with the theatre’s opera season, and it promises to be one filled with joy and passion. Of the six programs, all but one are full-lengths, the only mixed repertory show featuring works by some of the most current, innovative choreographers.
Finnish National Ballet 2022-2023 Season Schedule
Pippi Longstocking | August 20 – September 09, 2022
Finnish National Opera and Ballet
- Pippi Longstocking by Per Isberg
The world’s strongest ballet opens the autumn’s dance season when Pippi Longstocking returns to entertain children and adults alike in Per Isberg’s cheerful choreography. The strongest girl in the world dances onstage with the rest of children’s novelist Astrid Lindgren’s cherished characters, from Tommy to Annika, Mr. Nilsson and Lilla Gubben.
Triple Bill: World Wide Works | September 30 – October 22, 2022
Finnish National Opera and Ballet
- Dust by Akram Khan
- Earthborn by Fei Bo
- Heatscape by Justin Peck
Triple Bill: World Wide Dance is an evening of contemporary dance with three stars of the international choreography scene. Akram Khan’s Dust takes the audience to the British home front during World War I. Fei Bo represents the new generation of Chinese choreographers, fusing Western and traditional Chinese dance with Sami music in Earthborn. In Heatscape, Justin Peck has created a dynamic choreography inspired by the arts district of Miami.
The Orchestra of the Finnish National Opera will be conducted by Per Kristian Skalstad, with Earthborn also featuring the duo Vildá.
Romeo and Juliet | October 29 – November 18, 2022
Finnish National Opera and Ballet
- Romeo and Juliet by John Cranko
John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet is back in the repertoire after an absence of nearly ten years. Shakespeare’s immortal tragedy about the young lovers has inspired artists through the ages, and Cranko’s choreography to Sergei Prokofiev’s powerful music is one of its best known ballet versions. The timeless and affecting choreography from 1962 has kept its place in ballet companies’ repertoire for decades.
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King | December 3-22, 2022
Finnish National Opera and Ballet
- The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by John Neumeier
The ballet tradition of the festive season continues when even the youngest visitors are captivated by the exciting story, colorful costumes and vivid sets of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King which is set in the wintery town of Porvoo in Finland. Tchaikovsky’s beautiful music and the traditional choreography are a feelgood favorite for grown-up friends of classical ballet, too.
Carmen | January 14 – February 3, 2023
Finnish National Opera and Ballet
- Carmen by Liam Scarlett
The fateful love story of the world’s most popular opera features Georges Bizet’s familiar fiery music. Liam Scarlett’s choreography of Carmen is set in a cigarette factory in 1930s Spain, just before the Civil War breaks out. The production, which premiered at the Norwegian National Ballet in 2015, is the first ballet version that uses Bizet’s score practically in full.
Raymonda | February 24 – march 23, 2023
Finnish National Opera and Ballet
- Raymonda by Tamara Rojo
A co-production with English National Ballet, the world-famous dancer and choreographer Tamara Rojo has created a new interpretation of Alexander Glazunov’s ballet classic, which sets the events in the 1850s. The work has been inspired by the life of the pioneering nurse Florence Nightingale and other women who supported the war effort on the home front.
Jekyll & Hyde | April 1-7, 2023
Finnish National Opera and Ballet
- Jekyll & Hyde by Val Caniparoli
Choreographer Val Caniparoli’s ballet version of the classic horror story, Jekyll & Hyde, made a universal impression with its world premiere at the Finnish National Ballet in autumn 2020. The tale about the deep contradictions of the human mind is set on the twilight streets of Victorian London, the menacing ambience of a mental hospital, and the elegant circles of the upper classes.
Featured Photo for the Finnish National Ballet 2022-2023 Season of Rebecca King and Tuukka Piitulainen in Liam Scarlett’s Carmen. Photo from Finnish National Ballet.
