Finn maestro finds lost Wagnerian saga
mainThe stoic Finns are getting quite excited about a rediscovered opera that could perhaps be their missing Ring.
It appears that in 1890 the German composer Karl Müller-Berghaus (1829–1907) wrote a opera on the Kalevala saga while beating time as chief conductor of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra.
It was intended for an 1892 premiere in Hamburg but cancelled due to the famous cholera epidemic.
The second act was performed in Turku, and that was it.
Now the manuscript has turned up in a Turku archive and Leif Segerstam will conduct the world premiere in 2017 to mark the centenary of Finland’s independence.
Yo-ho, to-ho.
Break out the Koskenkorva!
Well, it’s not exactly maestro Segerstam who found the score. But it’s wonderful this opera will be performed again. Well done Turku!