Savonlinna Opera Festival


Savonlinna Opera Festival

Early July to early AugustThe Savonlinna Opera Festival is a month-long music festival in Savonlinna, Finland. Considered one of Europe's most important musical events, it began in 1967 with a performance of Beethoven's Fidelio . In 1992, for its 25th anniversary, Fidelio was presented again, as well as George and Ira Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, produced by Opera Ebony of New York and conducted by Estonian maestro Eri Klas.
The main site of the festival is the Olavinlinna Castle, the best-preserved medieval fortress in Finland. It was built in 1475 and named by Swedes and Finns on the lookout for raiding Russian armies.
CONTACTS:
Savonlinna Opera Festival Office
Olavinkatu 27
Savonlinna, 57130 Finland
358-15-4767-50; fax: 358-15-4767-540
www.operafestival.fi/In_English.iw3
SOURCES:
GdWrldFest-1985, p. 78
MusFestEurBrit-1980, p. 70