Sanatorio Express
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| Title: | Sanatorio Express |
| Original title: | Picaparantola |
| Shape: | Opera in two acts |
| Original language: | Finnish |
| Music: | Iiro Rantala |
| Libretto : | Minna Lindgren |
| Premiere: | September 27, 2018 |
| Place of premiere: | Finnish National Opera Helsinki |
| Playing time: | approx. 1 ¾ hours |
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Sanatorio Express (Finnish original title: Pikaparantola ) is an opera in two acts by Iiro Rantala (music) with a libretto by Minna Lindgren . It was premiered by the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki on September 27, 2018 .
action
first act
The opera takes place in a well-running wellness sanatorium, where customers can let go of their everyday worries. A healer takes care of all of their concerns and gives life advice, and the receptionist is always ready to comment. Four customers, two women and two men, rave about the “heavenly” ambience.
A soprano reports to reception. She is desperate because her marriage is in turmoil because of her excess weight. In her performance aria, she first complains about her weight and then falls into ecstasy about her joy in eating.
The other customers talk about their diagnoses. One woman suffers from "ludomania" ( addiction to gambling ), the other from "oniomania" ( addiction to shopping ). Another guest, the tenor, has unusual symptoms: he is “either on fire or completely apathetic”. All of these problems have dire consequences because they can lead to death and "of course divorce". The healer gives practical advice and everyone will immediately feel better. With the hint that today's therapy plan provides for self-help in the rooms, he sends the guests away. Afterwards he tries so hard for the soprano that she indignantly sends him “to hell” and complains about him to the receptionist. She can't believe a man would be genuinely interested in her. The receptionist agrees before setting her own experiences against it in her aria (in flamenco style): She enjoys life as she changes men several times a day.
The tenor declares his love for the soprano. After his wife has left him, he is only looking for peace and love. The soprano quickly returns his feelings. In a love duet, they both find they are addicted to each other and accept each other for who they are. Meanwhile, the healer oversees the relaxation exercises of the participants and the receptionist solves crossword puzzles.
Just as the tenor and soprano want to sneak away together, her husband arrives at the sanatorium, who wants to leave his marital frustration behind him. The husband and the tenor quarrel, and the tenor challenges the husband to a duel. Then the healer intervenes and orders them to do a “three-man workout” in which the two men should treat each other. The husband realizes his wrongdoing and expresses his shame about it in a song. He doesn't even know anymore whether he wants his wife back at all. Everyone else is confused too.
Second act
Some time later, the therapies are only partially effective. The healer tries in a drastic way to motivate the participants: If you skip even a single therapy session, it will lead to death. He compares this with the final death scene in every opera, which lasts an aria. He then reports on his successes with his “best patient”, the soprano’s husband, who takes part in an “external wellness program” and was healed after seeing cannibals in his house.
While the receptionist is putting on her make-up, the tenor gushes about his activities on the Internet's social media, and the soprano searches in vain in the mirror for the successes of her slimming diet. Tenor and soprano realize that the cure will not help them any further. They want to go back to their old life, which they can now enjoy without healing. The receptionist surprises her with the news that the healer has fallen in love with the soprano's husband. Tenor and soprano are delighted as it means they can live together forever. The receptionist points out, however, that the husband has not yet come out and the “external access” is just a deception. You decide to help fate. The receptionist already has a plan for the three of them to dress up for.
The receptionist has always cast off her admirers after the first meeting and now feels lonely. She wishes to lie next to a partner in the grave after her death.
According to the plan, everyone wanders masked through the dark rooms while the conspirators wait for the husband. Almost everything goes wrong because they can no longer recognize themselves. The husband hides in a closet and gradually panics until the soprano comes to his aid. After a clarifying conversation, they separate from each other in peace.
The sanatorium was downgraded on the Internet as a fraud institution and is on the verge of ruin. The healer tries to get away on a pretext but is stopped by customers who accuse him of imposture. However, the receptionist points out that they are all happier now than before and have actually never been sick. In addition, two couples found each other. The sanatorium has to close, but she already has a new idea: She wants to open a wellness salon for lap dogs.
layout
The opera is formally based on the opera buffa of the early 18th century. There are choirs, arias (often in two parts) and ensembles that range from duets to quintets. It is recommended on the Finnish National Opera website for children aged seven and over.
Work history
The comic opera Sanatorio Express comes from the Finnish composer and jazz pianist Iiro Rantala . The orchestration took Arttu Takalo ago. The libretto was written by the author Minna Lindgren , who is best known for her detective novels.
The world premiere took place on September 27, 2018 at the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki. The Finnish National Opera Orchestra played under the direction of Kalle Kuusava . The staging was done by Maria Sid , stage and costumes by Anna Kontek, light and video design by Joonas Tikkanen. The singers were Johanna Rusanen (a soprano), Päivi Nisula (receptionist), Hannu Niemelä (healer), Markus Nykänen (a tenor), Waltteri Torikka (husband), Anu Hostikka (lady 1), Ann-Marie Heino (lady 2) , Heikki Hattunen (man 1) and Samuli Takkula (man 2). A video recording was made available on the Operavision Internet platform.
The production then went on tour through Finland with performances in Oulu , Kuopio and Turku .
Web links
- Work information and video stream at Operavision (video available until April 1, 2019)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Minna Lindgren: A Serious Comedy. "Insights" at Operavision, accessed on October 27, 2018.
- ↑ a b c Performance information on the Finnish National Opera website , accessed October 27, 2018.
- ↑ drive information at Opera vision, accessed on 27 October 2018th