The Savonlinna Opera Festival 2025 proudly announces the directors for two highly anticipated opera revivals this summer. Acclaimed Finnish director Vilppu Kiljunen will helm Giuseppe Verdi’s Macbeth, while celebrated German director Roman Hovenbitzer will take charge of reviving Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot. Both productions return to the stage after over a decade’s pause.
Vilppu Kiljunen returns to Savonlinna
Originally directed by the grand old man of Finnish theatre and member of the Arts Academy Ralf Långbacka (1932-2022) and designed by Anneli Qveflander, Macbeth at the Savonlinna Opera Festival saw its premiere in 1993. The production has ever since traveled worldwide, captivating audiences from Santiago de Chile to Beijing.
Celebrated for his nuanced storytelling and theatrical artistry, Vilppu Kiljunen is one of the most influential figures in Finnish opera and theatre. He has directed several successful productions at Savonlinna Opera Festival, including Faust, Horseman and Aleksis Kivi.
This time, Kiljunen will lead the revival of Verdi’s Macbeth, a dramatic opera masterpiece based on William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy. “Working in Savonlinna is always an exciting challenge, as Olavinlinna inspires and sets its own specific requirements for stage productions”, says Vilppu Kiljunen. “Långbacka’s interpretation of Macbeth is based on the strength of the dramatic base and its fidelity to the original work, which makes it a meaningful retelling. In that sense, it makes sense to refresh the interpretation of this production, also as I am familiar with the work through my previous stagings.”
Refreshing Energy to Turandot
The visually stunning production, originally directed and visually designed by Pet Halmen (1943-2012), has mesmerized audiences since its premiere in 2003. This time, the celebrated German opera director Roman Hovenbitzer, known for his highly acclaimed production of Lohengrin at the Savonlinna Opera Festival, and who has also priorly worked with Halmen himself, will direct its revival.
The combination of Halmen’s iconic stage design and Hovenbitzer’s theatrical precision ensures that Savonlinna’s Turandot remains a festival highlight. “Turandot is an opera of extremes – between power and love, cruelty and redemption. With his unique orchestration and melodies inspired by imaginations of the Far East, Puccini created a world of sound that still fascinates today – a world, that translates exceptionally well to the stage of Olavinlinna”, says director Roman Hovenbitzer.
Artistic Vision and Festival Legacy
“Macbeth and Turandot are two of the most intense works in opera literature. These traditional Savonlinna productions have very particular and beloved visual worlds. Now it’s time to bring back their old magic with a fresh touch after over a decade’s pause. We have the luxury of welcoming the experienced masters, Roman Hovenbitzer and Vilppu Kiljunen, to lead these Savonlinna Opera Festival revivals”, says Artistic Director Ville Matvejeff.
“I’m delighted that we may present these visually stunning productions in their original form, yet with refreshed energy, and I’m expecting these revivals to be as vibrant as the premiere showings. This will be a true tribute to the remarkable work and legacy for Savonlinna by the two late opera masters, Ralf Långbacka and Pet Halmen.”
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Olavinlinna Castle, the Savonlinna Opera Festival 2025 continues its tradition of bringing world-class opera to Finland’s summer landscape. With these distinguished appointments, the festival reaffirms its commitment to excellence, artistic innovation, and the timeless power of opera.
The Savonlinna Opera Festival is one of the internationally most known cultural events in Finland. Founded in 1912 and awarded as the Best Opera Festival Award at the International Opera Awards in 2024, its founder of the festival Aino Ackté has crystallized the experience: “a world class opera performance in a romantic, medieval castle in the middle of the Lakeland views is truly a unique and unforgettable experience”.
More on Macbeth here.
More on Turandot here.
Photo bank here.
Further information
Myy Honkanen, Myy-Promotion
+358 40 574 3577
myy.honkanen@gmail.com
Konstanze Kaas
konstanze.kaas@operafestival.fi
+49 173 63 54 204
