Composer legend Veljo Tormis started composing the opera in 1989, but the work was left unfinished. The majority of the opera has been composed by 31-year-old Rasmus Puur, who is one of Estonia’s most famous young composers.
TALLINN – Why can’t I be in peace, Estonian soloist of the Finnish National Opera, bass Koit Soasepp growls Lallina.
The Lalli opera, which will have its world premiere in this grand setting today, Saturday, is an entirely Estonian production. However, it is based Eino Leinon to the Lalli play, and like operas, it is performed in the original language, i.e. Finnish.
Estonian subtitles rotated on the board above the stage.
According to legend, the Finnish peasant Lalli killed bishop Henrik on the ice of Lake Köyliönjärvi in the 12th century. Although the story of the bishop killer is relatively unknown south of the Gulf of Finland, the project’s musical director and conductor Tõnu Kaljuste believes that Lalli will also open to Estonians.
According to him, it is a work dealing with universal themes.
– Lalli is especially relevant these days, when we see human nature working in practice, Kaljuste states, referring to the war in Ukraine.
Composer: In Lall’s time, Estonians and Finns were in the same mess
Lall’s journey to opera has been long and intermittent. The Estonian composer legend started working on the opera Brother Tormis already in 1989. However, for some reason, the composition work was left unfinished at a fairly early stage.
Most of the opera has been composed by the 31-year-old Rasmus Puur. He is one of Estonia’s most famous young composers.
According to Puuri, Lalli shows Estonians how similar the two brotherhoods are.
– There is a lot we are familiar with: the need to be alone, the awkwardness of socializing and the difficulty of adapting to changes, says Puur.
He also sees a historical connection in Lall.
– The story takes place at a time when Estonians and Finns were in perhaps the most similar situation as nations, Puur reflects.
The end result is a functional fusion
When Puur, at Tõnu Kaljusten’s instigation, took Lalli a few years ago, the finished composition was only a sixth of the final version. However, Veljo Tormis had done a tremendous job with the libretto, the description of the characters and the background of the events.
The groundwork with Tormissen was done by his wife, a theater researcher Lea Tormis and a Finnish theater and opera director Sakari Puurunen.
– It was as if I got ready tracks. Advancing along them was both easy and challenging. I also wanted to express myself, says Puur.
There was no clear impetus for the fact that Lall was grabbed just now.
– This was one of Tõnu’s whims. But I’m a bit of an instigator, laughs Puur.
According to conductor Tõnu Kaljusten, Lalli, which is ready for the premiere, is a pleasant fusion that includes an old master composer and young talent.
– Rasmus Puur knows Tormis well and has remained loyal to its basic values.
At least for now, Lalli is becoming a rare treat. It will be performed at the Birgitta Festival twice this weekend.
However, the week-long festival offers more Finnish things. A week later, Pirita rang Jean Sibeliuswhen the conductor Kristjan Järvi offers his own interpretation of Jean Sibelius’ Tempest.
On the closing weekend of the festival, the Birgitta monastery will also be heard twice Kimmo Pohjonen and Juuso Hannukainen Poppy concert.