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Dramatically tense double bill pairs Iolanta with Luonnotar at Finnish National Opera

Nina Bezu (Iolanta) and Edgaras Montvidas (Vaudémont)
© Emma Suominen
Silja Aalto (Luonnotar)
© Emma Suominen
Natalia Vinogradova (Martha), Nina Bezu (Iolanta) and Elisaveta Rimkevitch (Brigitta)
© Emma Suominen
Mika Kares (René), Nina Bezu (Iolanta) and ensemble
© Emma Suominen
Mika Kares (René), Edgaras Montvidas (Vaudémont) and Tuomas Miettola (Alméric)
© Emma Suominen
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“minimal staging and simple costumes articulate the unifying premise clearly and without pedantry”
Reviewed at Finnish National Opera: Main Hall (Suomen Kansallisoopera: päänäyttämö), Helsinki on 15 May 2026
Sibelius, Luonnotar, symphonic poem for soprano and orchestra, Op.70
Tchaikovsky, Iolanta
Finnish National Opera
Kristian Sallinen, Conductor
Antony McDonald, Director, Set Designer, Costume Designer
Lucy Carter, Lighting Designer
Orchestra of the Finnish National Opera
Finnish National Opera Chorus
Nina Bezu, Iolanta
Mika Kares, King René
Edgaras Montvidas, Vaudémont
Yuriy Yurchuk, Robert
Michael Kraus, Ibn-Hakia
Tuomas Miettola, Alméric
Koit Soasepp, Bertrand
Natalia Vinogradova, Martha
Elisaveta Rimkevitch, Brigitta
Anna Erokhina, Laura
Silja Aalto, Soprano
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