Finland – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera returned to the National Opera of Helsinki for the fourth and apparently last time.
Premiering in 2015, this production has drawn record crowds and the fall performances were sold out well in advance.
The Phantom of the Opera at the National Opera of Helsinki
While technically a musical set in an opera house, The Phantom of the Opera perfectly suits the venue. Almost entirely sung, with a few spoken parts, it demands high-caliber performances from its singers, dancers, and orchestra—an area where the National Opera excels. Memorable melodies like “The Music of the Night” and “All I Ask of You” linger long after the curtain falls, while the iconic opening notes of the title song evoke the mystery and drama inherent in the story.
Set in the depths of the Paris opera house, the narrative follows a disfigured man who terrorizes the staff while secretly in love with Christine, a young dancer and he trains her to become the opera’s next star soprano. When Christine rekindles a romance with her former lover Raoul, jealousy fuels the Phantom’s rage, leading to disaster when the new opera managers deny Christine a lead role. This culminates in a dramatic masquerade where the Phantom reveals his new opera and a plan is set to capture him during the premiere. Based on Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s adaptation is the most renowned, though it provides limited insight into the Phantom’s backstory, inspired in part by a tragic chandelier accident in 1896.
Ville Rusanen and Kevin Greenlaw alternate in the role of the Phantom, while Marika Hölttä and Emma Kajander debut as Christine. Other notable performances include Olli Tuovinen, Markus Nykänen, Sauli Tiilikainen, Aarne Pelkonen, Johannes Vatjus, Mika Pohjonen, Hanna-Leena Haapamäki, and Reetta Haavisto. Performed in English, the leads delivered their lines smoothly, enhancing the production’s overall impact. The National Opera’s presentation has been truly magnificent, standing tall among major global productions.
