The recently announced Finnish National Ballet 2023-2024 season again showcases the company’s strength in presenting full-length ballets, including the classics Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet.
A Christmas Carol, Dracula, and Messa da Requiem, the latter a collaboration with the Opera, along with an evening of works set to Stravinsky’s music rounds out the year.
Finnish National Ballet 2023-2024 Season Schedule
Swan Lake | September 9, 2023 – May 29, 2024 & October 6-7, 2023
Finnish National Opera and Ballet & Tampere Hall
- Swan Lake by David McAllister
Swan Lake has a long history at the Finnish National Ballet, where it was performed as its first production a hundred years ago. David McAllister’s new version, commissioned for the centenary of the Finnish National Ballet in 2022, honors the rich tradition of the ballet.
Messa da Requiem | October 20 – November 18, 2023
Finnish National Opera and Ballet
- Messa da Requiem by Christian Spuck
A permanent feature in the concert repertoire, Giuseppe Verdi’s Messa da Requiem takes to the stage in a sensational co-production of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet. This masterpiece, which was composed to Catholic liturgy in Latin, is just as captivatingly dramatic as Verdi’s operas. The quietest whispers develop into colossal, climactic moments that push both the chorus and the orchestra to give everything they have.
Instead of focusing on religious messages, Verdi’s Requiem delves into the final questions of human existence on a more general level. Choreographer Christian Spuck combines the oratoric score for four solo singers and a large chorus and orchestra to a visual world of dance, abstract scenes, space, and light.
A Christmas Carol | December 1-30, 2023
Finnish National Opera and Ballet
- A Christmas Carol by David Bintley
Charles Dickens’s Christmas tale of virtue and justice has enchanted theatre-goers for more than 150 years. Now the story set in 19th century London is seen as an affecting ballet, which premieres at the Finnish National Ballet in the festive season of 2023. The impactful visuals of the production recreate the industrialising Victorian city, showcasing the contrast between the upper middle classes’ Christmas finery and the wretched conditions of the urban poor.
Romeo and Juliet | January 20 – February 7, 2024
Finnish National Opera and Ballet
- Romeo and Juliet by John Cranko
Shakespeare’s immortal story about the young lovers of two rival families and their tragic fate has inspired artists through the ages. John Cranko’s choreography to Sergei Prokofyev’s powerful music is one of the most famous ballet versions of Romeo and Juliet.
The tragic story of the star-crossed lovers from two rival families has touched the entire world since Shakespeare’s times. The stunning ballet, which combines delicate duets with fast-paced, even humorous scenes is guaranteed to delight adult audiences.
Dracula | March 1-23, 2024
Finnish National Opera and Ballet
- Dracula by Krzysztof Pastor
Krzysztof Pastor’s choreography for Dracula was received with great enthusiasm in West Australian Ballet in 2018. The music by Wojciech Kilar was also heard in the Oscar-winning film Dracula by Francis Ford Coppola.
The blood-thirsty and diabolical yet sexually alluring horror icon made his first appearance in European short fiction during the early 19th century. Bram Stoker’s Dracula, inspired by the historical figure of 15th century Count of Wallachia, Vlad the Impaler, has become a classic in popular culture.
The haunting story has been recreated in countless film and stage adaptations since its publication in 1897. One of the best known renditions is the Oscar-winning film directed by Francis Ford Coppola in 1992. The chilling film music by the Polish composer Wojciech Kilar serves as the foundation for the ballet score, which has been complemented with Kilar’s additional compositions.
The Stravinsky Evening | April 19 – May 18, 2024
Finnish National Opera and Ballet
- Sacre by Goyo Montero
- TBA
The music, choreography and visuals of Le Sacre du Printemps, which Igor Stravinsky created for Ballets Russes, started a new era in the history of ballet. The Stravinsky evening at the Finnish National Ballet offers a fresh take on his original works, combining his music with innovative choreography and stunning visuals. Sacre is a choreography by Goyo Montero to the music of Le Sacre du Printemps.
Featured Photo for the Finnish National Ballet 2023-2024 Season of Jun Xia and Yuka Masumoto in John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet. Photo from the company’s website.
