Tammerkoski Temporary Bridge Transformed into Stage for Chamber Opera at Festival of Light

The Festival of Light opens on Friday with a specially staged outdoor chamber opera on the temporary Tammerkoski bridge. The performance launches a ten-day programme that also features an illuminated art trail and nightly Dancing Waters shows.

This year’s festival marks the 60th edition of the Tampere Festival of Light and Finland’s 120th anniversary of universal and equal suffrage earlier coverage provided background on the opera and trail.

Her Voice is the evening's centrepiece. The commissioned chamber opera was created for Tampere Opera’s 80th anniversary and to mark the suffrage anniversary. Composer Minna Leinonen and librettist-director Marika Vapaavuori built the piece around the story of MP Hilja Pärssinen. Internationally acclaimed soprano Tuuli Takala stars in the title role, with Villa Murtagh as Toini. Nearly 50 choir members and about 50 dancers from Balettikoulu Hannele Suomalainen join the cast, alongside the Dancing Waters installation. Deputy Mayor Anne-Mari Jussila has invited residents to visit the Flow of Equality art trail, the Equality Market and community events running through 1 November.

The Flow of Equality route stretches about 1.5 kilometres from Koskipuisto Park to Kehräsaari and displays 11 works by local artists, interactive voting-themed installations and window pieces inspired by last autumn’s Window Walkabout. Dancing Waters will run for ten consecutive evenings, with performances on the hour from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The temporary bridge will be closed to pedestrians and cyclists during preparations and the opening programme on 22–23 October, with crossings rerouted via Hämeensilta and Satakunnansilta. The city previously announced the closure when it revealed the bridge would host the opening opera previous notice.