The Savonlinna Opera Festival is looking forward to the return of Verdi’s Macbeth to the historic stage of Olavinlinna Castle this summer, as part of its 2025 season celebrating the castle’s 550th anniversary. This revival of Ralf Långbacka’s acclaimed production, originally hailed as “the best Macbeth ever” and taken around the world, will be conducted by Lorenzo Passerini and feature a distinguished cast including world-class singers such as French baritone Ludovic Tézier and Spanish soprano Saioa Hernández. It will be Saioa’s debut at the festival, while Lorenzo and Ludovic are returing to Savonlinna after the highly acclaimed Tosca in 2022, whre Ludovic gave a trailblazing performance in the role of Scarpia.
A tribute to Anneli Qveflander
This season also marks a poignant moment as the festival pays tribute to the late Anneli Qveflander, a pioneering Finnish costume designer and art director, who passed away at the age of 96. Qveflander’s visionary work on the opera as well as on the theater stage, has had an indenieable influence on the Finnish opera scene and the Savonlinna Opera Festival.
Artistic Director Ville Matvejeff reflects on her legacy
“Anneli Qveflander was a true trailblazer in Finnish stage design. Her artistry brought depth and authenticity to the stage of Olavinlinna, enriching the visual storytelling of the opera. Her contributions continue to inspire and set a high standard for future generations.”
Grand operas for Olavinlinna’s stage
The 2025 festival season, running from July 3 to August 2, will also feature other operatic masterpieces such as Puccini’s Turandot, Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov, and Joonas Kokkonen’s The Last Temptations as well as Purcell’s The Fairy Queen from the visiting opera company Festival Perelada. These performances, set against the backdrop of the world’s northernmost medieval castle, promise an unforgettable experience for opera enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
Media Contact, Interview Requests, Questions:
Konstanze Kaas
International Relations
Email: konstanze.kaas@operafestival.fi
Phone: +49 173 63 54 204
Myy Honkanen
Press Relations
Email: myy.honkanen@gmail.com
Phone: +358 40 574 3577
