Opera, Ballet & Shows

photo © Savonlinna Opera Festival

The leading opera company in Finland is Suomen Kansallisooppera, or Finnish National Opera, and is based in the modern and stylish Opera House located by the lake on Töölönlahti. However, the true star of the cultural calendar in Finland is the annual midsummer Savonlinna Opera Festival, an internationally acclaimed festival staged in the magical setting of the courtyard of medieval Olavlinna Castle.

The first professional theatre activities began in Finland almost 140 years ago, and today the network of theatres here stretches from one end of the country to the other. There are also numerous smaller groups who provide travelling puppet theatre, restaurant theatre, and performance groups.