Tulevaisuuden retki
Children's opera: 2 soloists, reciter, ensemble
Composed:
2010
Score / parts
Instrumentation and duration
Children's opera: soprano, tenor, reciter, ensemble: clarinet, horn, percussion, piano, violin, cello
Duration: 1 hour
Libretto
Libretto by Emma Puikkonen
Acts / scenes
One act: Introduction and eight scenes. Scene 7 includes two alternative versions, with the audience choosing during the performance which one will be performed.
Commission / dedications
Commissioned by ArtSoppa Society and Turku 2011 European Capital of Culture
First performance
Kirsti Tuominen, soprano, Timo Turunen, tenor, chamber ensemble, cond. Pasi Helin, Linna Theatre, Turku Music Festival & European Capital of Culture 2011, Turku, Finland, August 6, 2011
Reflections
Concert review, published on Turun Sanomat by Katariina Norontaus
February 2, 2011
A Children’s Opera That Doesn’t Underestimate Its Audience
An unusual world premiere took place on Tuesday morning at Pääskyvuori School. The children’s opera Tulevaisuuden retki ("Journey to the Future"), part of the European Capital of Culture programme, tells the story of Jaspriina Akuliina Harvahammas Möttönen, who is given a mission by the President: to travel into the future and bring back something exciting, something to brighten up everyday life—and a pickle jar opener.
Produced by the Turku 3011 Children’s Opera team and ArtSoppa Society, the opera aims to introduce children to the world of modern opera both as audience members and creators. Workshops related to the opera were held last semester in twelve elementary schools.
“We specifically wanted to include schools without any special emphasis or focus areas, and that are located outside the city centre,” says producer Krista Leivo.
Six classes participated in composition workshops, while three classes contributed to the set design and libretto. The latter groups’ creative input is strongly reflected in the final production.
A Libretto with Child's Logic
An hour of modern atonal music might sound like a tough listen—even for most adults. But composer Markku Klami, who composed Tulevaisuuden retki, has found through teaching and workshops that children tend to approach music with more openness than adults.
“That’s why I didn’t try to write music that sounded like children’s songs—I approached it from a completely different angle.”
Director Tapio Väntsi is also pleased with how the children received the hour-long performance.
“There was some fidgeting in the front row—that’s where the youngest kids were sitting. One teacher even said there haven’t been many performances that students have watched so still and focused.”
Emma Puikkonen, who wrote the libretto based on texts by the children, noticed that the same things that made them laugh in class also worked in the audience.