Kullervo is based on an early masterpiece by iconic Finnish composer Jean Sibelius and a timeless story featured in the Finnish national epic, The Kalevala. In his contemporary take on the tale of a young man who seduces his sister, kills his enemies, and falls on his own swords, director-choreographer Tero Saarinen fuses dance with opera and live music.
Commissioned by the Finnish National Opera, Kullervo features nearly 100 performers on stage. The FNO and Tero Saarinen Company co-production premiered on February 13, 2015.
Choreography
Tero Saarinen
Music
Jean Sibelius Kullervo (Symphony Op.7)
Lighting, set and screen design
Mikki Kunttu
Screen graphics
Mikko Linnavuori
Costume design
Erika Turunen
Choreographer’s Assistants
Henrikki Heikkilä, Sini Länsivuori
Principal Ballet Mistress
Francis Guardia
Number of performers
92 (27 dancers, 65 singers)
Tero Saarinen’s creation, Vox Balaenae, is set to the contemporary music classic of the same name – one of the best-known works by American composer George Crumb.
Choreography
Tero Saarinen
Music
George Crumb: Vox Balaenae
Music performed by
Ensemble intercontemporain soloists: Sophie Cherrier (flute), Hidéki Nagano (piano), Pierre Strauch (cello) or Avanti! soloists: Hanna Juutilainen (flute) / Heljä Räty (flute) Emil Holmström (piano) Jukka Rautasalo (cello)
Lighting and set design
Mikki Kunttu
Costume design
Erika Turunen
Sound design
Marco Melchior
Choreographer’s Assistants
Satu Halttunen, Henrikki Heikkilä and Sini Länsivuori
Executive Producer
Iiris Autio
VORTEX (Haeori) was commissioned by the National Dance Company of Korea in 2014. Tero Saarinen was the first foreign contemporary choreographer to work with the renowned troupe, dedicated to upholding and promoting Korean dance traditions.
In the creation, Saarinen combines 25 dancers, interpreting his signature choreographic style, with live music by Be-being, an ensemble known for its innovative interpretations of the Korean musical heritage.
Choreography
Tero Saarinen
Music
Be-being
Music direction, composer
Young-gyu Jang
Lighting and set design
Mikki Kunttu
Costume design
Erika Turunen
Choreographer’s Assistants
Satu Halttunen, Henrikki Heikkilä, Mi-ae Kim
Tero Saarinen’s signature solo HUNT was commissioned by the Venice Biennale in 2002. Saarinen toured with the work until the end of 2013 – The Rite of Spring Centennial – in a total of 83 cities and 32 countries.
During its short history, HUNT, praised by audiences and critics alike, was labelled one of the most significant contemporary reinterpretations of The Rite of Spring.
Choreography
Tero Saarinen
Music
Igor Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring
Lighting and set design
Mikki Kunttu
Costume design
Erika Turunen
Multimedia
Marita Liulia
Multimedia programming
Jakke Kastelli
Tero Saarinen’s third Stravinsky interpretation, Mariage, received its world premiere in Nancy, France in December 2007. A joint production between CCN – Ballet de Lorraine and Opéra National de Lorraine , the original cast featured 14 dancers, four solo singers, a choir of 44 people, six percussionists and four pianists. There is also a touring version with 24 dancers.
In Mariage, Saarinen concentrates on the sorrow, loss and eternal drama present in Stravinsky’s Les Noces.
Choreography
Tero Saarinen
Music
Igor Stravinsky: Les Noces
Lighting, set and screen design
Mikki Kunttu
Costume design
Erika Turunen
Choreographer’s Assistants
Anu Sistonen
Rehearsal Director
Henrikki Heikkilä
Repetitor
Maria Nurmela
Number of performers
62 (original version with singers) + orchestra
24 (touring version without singers)
Choreography
Tero Saarinen
Lighting and set design
Mikki Kunttu
Costume design
Erika Turunen
Music
collage
Choreographer’s Assistant
Henrikki Heikkilä
Rehearsing directors
Henrikki Heikkilä, Sini Länsivuori
Lighting realisation
Eero Auvinen
Duration: 35 minutes
Number of dancers: 23
World premiere: March 21, 2003, Finnish National Opera
Production: Finnish National Ballet
Also in the repertoire of Göteborg Ballet (2007)
