Renovation of Finnish National Opera House to cost millions of euros

Erkki Korhonen

print this

A renovation project expected to last six months is being planned for the main stage of the Finnish National Opera in 2007. During the renovation, the spring and autumn seasons of the main stage will be a couple of months shorter than usual. On the other hand, the studio stage (Alminsali) will be available during the entire renovation period.
     
"Some maintenance work has been carried out in the Opera House every summer, but this will be the first real refit job", says General Director Erkki Korhonen. "For instance, the computers that date from the year 1993 are hopelessly outmoded."
      The proposed renovation will address a number of stage-related occupational safety issues in the 11-year-old building and bring the data systems up to modern requirements.
     
"Technological improvements and the adoption of European standards will also make it easier for us to carry out joint productions with visiting operas. Eventually this is bound to increase the cost efficiency", Korhonen notes.
     
The estimated costs of the renovation will run to several millions of euros. "The Government has given us the green light, and as soon as we know the scope of the renovation, we will be able to give a more detailed cost estimate", Erkki Korhonen promises.
      The Opera House, located on Helsinki's Mannerheimintie, was completed in 1993 and is the first purpose-built home for the flagship opera and ballet company.
      The main auditorium seats around 1,350, and the studio stage has seating for 300-500. There are roughly 300 performances each year, including concerts and audience briefings. The National Opera puts on around 140 opera performances and 110 ballet performances annually.


Links:
  Finnish National Opera

Helsingin Sanomat