// Concerts
Kaija Saariaho: Émilie
- Thursday 26.6.2025 at 19:00
- Avanti Hall, Art Factory, Porvoo
- 1,5h
- no intermediate period
- 36.10 - 59.60€
About the concert
Émilie is an opera by composer Kaija Saariaho and librettist Amin Maalouf, which premiered at the Lyon Opera in 2010. In Finland, the work was last performed at the Finnish National Opera in 2015. It tells the story of the last days of French scientist Émilie du Châtelet. The themes are the love between a man and a woman and the love of knowledge and truth. What fascinated Saariaho about Émilie du Châtelet was her contradictions and her great achievements at a time when women were expected only to marry well.
Émilie du Châtelet’s life is about science, which is philosophy, and order, which is emotional. Perhaps she can indeed be the subject of a grand opera, which is also an intimate experience. . – Aleksi Barrière
Émilie is an opera by composer Kaija Saariaho and librettist Amin Maalouf, which premiered at the Opéra de Lyon in 2010. In Finland, the opera was last staged at Finlands Nationalopera in 2015. The opera is about the last days of the life of the French science student Émilie du Châtelet. Förutom kärleken mellan man och kvinna lyfter verket fram kärleken till kunskap och sanning som centrala teman. Saariaho was fascinated by Émilie du Châtelet as a person – her saintly nature and her unforgiving preferences at a time when women were mostly expected to be happy.
Émilie du Châtelet’s life is about a philosophy of science that is a philosophy and a love that is a love affair. Perhaps it can really be a great opera about her – an opera that is also an intimate experience.
– Aleksi Barrière
Programme
The one-act opera has nine scenes. There are 32 artists on stage at the same time: a chamber orchestra with harpsichord, conductor, two dancers and two singers. The composition uses electronics throughout the work.
Performers
Pia Freund, soprano
Meeri Pulakka, soprano
SanniAntikainen, harpsichord
Ada Freund and Janne Marja-aho, dance and choreography
Aleksi Barrière, director
Chamber Orchestra Avanti!
Aliisa Neige Barrière, conductor
TimoKurkikangas, sound design and production
Info
Basic ticket 36.10 – 59.60 €
Discount ticket (students, unemployed, children, reserve personnel, auxiliary)
The production is a co-production of Kokonainen ry, Dialogia! festival ry and Avant Chamber Orchestra. The production coordinator is Sera Syvänen (Raitala Music).
Photo: Kokonainen ry
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Arrival / Accessibility
The Art Factory is located at Läntinen Aleksanterinkatu 1. For accessibility instructions, click here.