Search - Tikka - Luther / Virtanen, Ruuttunen, Saarinen, Wirkkala, Alamikkotervo, Mitt, Tikka, Helsinki Opera on DVD

Luthera Opera:Intense and Beautiful and Haunting

P. Pedersen | Canada | 03/19/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For my birthday I gathered some friends together to watch Kari Tikka's Luther Opera. Some spoke Finnish and some only English, but the favourable opinion was uniform. Some even went on to either purchase the opera or recommend it to friends. This is certainly not a 'light opera'. It is based on theology of the Cross rather than Glory theology. Luther's life, just like the Christian's is full of trials, suffering, and disappointment but grace is ever present. The opera is surprisingly contemporary for, as the parallel between the beginning and end of the opera reveal, we deal with the same issues. The very philosophies that Luther challenged are again loud voices. The device of a chorus as well as the simple staging echo a Greek drama, and the involvement of the audience in singing hymns along with the cast again reinforces that the viewer is part of the drama which is ongoing. Esa Ruutunen who sings the part of Luther has a deep resonant voice, and is a pastor himself. He believes what he is singing and it gives power to his words. The opera contains much beautiful music. The hymns are ancient and would have been familiar to Luther's congregations, and the hymn Armolaulu "Grace Song" by Kari Tikka is one of the most beautiful and haunting melodies I have ever heard."