Mozart
& Salieri / Zanetto

Mozart & Salieri:

The core of the work lies in the encounter between genius and jealousy: what happens when extraordinary talent awakens conflicting emotions in another person? This chamber opera by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov is based on a text by Alexander Pushkin and explores the myth surrounding Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri.
The atmosphere is intense and psychologically charged – musically, it is compact, dramatic, and at times almost suffocatingly tense, yet deeply human.
The piece feels especially relevant today as it addresses universal themes such as comparison, inadequacy, and envy. Rather than claiming historical truth, it opens space for interpretation: is this a myth, or a mirror of the human mind?
On stage, the audience encounters a chamber opera where music and drama merge into an intimate whole. The form is concentrated, focusing on the tension between two characters.
The production is created by director Ville Saukkonen, with performers Riku Pelo (Salieri), Roope Pelo (Mozart), and pianist Malla Pelo.

Zanetto:
The final moments of a 1960s film star’s tragic life, in which men from her past emerge from her memories—an athlete, a director, and a politician.

Mascagni is one of the central composers of the Italian opera tradition, and his works are known in particular for their straightforward melodies and intense emotional expression.
Zanetto has never before been staged by a Finnish production team, which makes this performance unique. Although Pietro Mascagni is one of the best-known composers of the Italian opera tradition, this one-act work has received less attention and is rarely performed. The work is now brought to life through a new interpretation and direction, combining Mascagni’s melodic beauty and emotionally powerful expression with the final moments of a 1960s film star’s life and characters from the past.
The audience will experience an opera performance in which Mascagni’s emotionally charged music takes on a new narrative through the direction.

The production is directed by Ville Saukkonen, and the cast features soprano Laura Juvonen and mezzo-soprano Fanny Henn, with Jussi Littunen on piano.