Finland - a nation of opera

Finland is a nation of opera. Nowhere else in the world are there as many contemporary operas being produced per capita as in Finland. Finnish audiences are receptive and interested, and indeed proud of the high quality of Finland's music culture.

But what is it to be an opera composer in Finland and in today's increasingly globalised society? In this book, editors Elke Albrecht and Eeva-Taina Forsius-Schibli provide facts and up-to-date information but principally give composers themselves a voice in a collection of essays with personal musings concerning everything about opera, from its history to its aesthetic principles. For the reader, this yields a unique opportunity to glance behind the scenes of the incredibly complex production process of the joint artwork that is opera. Along the way, we learn of the meaning of success and also something of the downside of artistic creativity.

The book includes contributions by Kalevi Aho, Atso Almila, Markus Fagerudd, Paavo Heininen, Mikko Heiniö, Heinz-Juhani Hofmann, Pekka Jalkanen, Olli Kortekangas, Juha T. Koskinen, Ilkka Kuusisto, Timo-Juhani Kyllönen, Jukka Linkola, Uljas Pulkkis, Veli-Matti Puumala, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Herman Rechberger, Kaija Saariaho, Aulis Sallinen and Tapio Tuomela as well as a preface by Jorma Silvasti.