Laura Åkerlund
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Laura Åkerlund | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1987 Helsinki, Finland |
| Nationality | Finnish |
| Education | Master's degree in Musicology (Helsinki University), Opera Stage Directing (Sibelius-Academy), Theater Studies (Freie Universität Berlin), Management and International Business (Aalto University) |
| Occupation(s) | Opera stage director, Pianist |
| Known for | Finalist for Directrice Générale at Opéra de Lyon (2019), Finalist for Directrice Générale at Opéra National de Bordeaux (2021), Founder and Director of Comic Opera Helsinki
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| Awards | Best stage direction, best-leading performance (La Traviata, 2015) |
Laura Åkerlund (born 1987 in Helsinki, Finland)[1] is a Finnish opera-stage director and pianist.[2] In 2019, she was a finalist for the position of ''Directrice Générale'' at the Opéra de Lyon,[3][4][5] and in 2021, she advanced to the final stages of selection for the same role at the Opéra National de Bordeaux.[6]
Biography
[edit]Åkerlund began piano lessons at the age of six and completed her studies privately at the Helsinki Conservatory. She earned a Master of Musicology degree from the University of Helsinki, and later studied opera stage directing at the Sibelius Academy, theater studies at the Freie Universität Berlin, and management and international business at Aalto University. She is fluent in Finnish, English, Swedish, German, and French.[7]
In 2017, she founded Helsingin Koominen Ooppera (Comic Opera Helsinki), Finland’s newest opera house, inspired by the traditions of Paris's Opéra Comique and Berlin's Komische Oper.[8][9][10][11] The institution aims to broaden opera’s accessibility through experimental performances staged in unconventional venues. Under her direction, Comic Opera Helsinki premiered Finland’s first immersive opera, Vixen (a reimagining of Janáček's The Cunning Little Vixen), in collaboration with Silent Opera and the Helsinki Festival. The production took place in a historic train station.[12][13]
Productions
[edit]As stage director
[edit]- 2011 – Heta Aho: Himmerrä ja Valo, Musica Nova Helsinki.[14]
- 2011 – Musical: Aallonharjalla, Malmitalo, Helsinki.
- 2015 – Verdi: La Traviata, 3rd International Music Festival Putikon Hovi (winner: Best Stage Direction, Best Leading Performance).
- 2015 – Tchaikovsky: Eugen Onegin, St. Petersburg and Punkaharju Finland.
- 2018 – Moniuszko: Halka, Helsinki Opera Festival, Comic Opera Helsinki.[15]
- 2018 – Sallinen: The Red Line, Kemi City Orchestra.[16][17][18]
As assistant stage director and stage manager
[edit]- 2006 – Haydn: L’Isola disabitata, Finnish Chamber Opera (assistant stage director and stage manager).
- 2006 – Sallinen: The Red Line; Pacius: Kung Karls Jakt; Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin (stage director trainee, Finnish National Opera).
- 2007 – Kuusisto: Risto Ryti - vapauden vanki (production assistant, Finnish Chamber Opera).
- 2007 – Pohjola: Kaksi kamarioopperaa rakkaudesta (assistant stage director, stage manager; Helsinki Festival & Turku Music Festival).
- 2008 – Händel: Acis and Galatea, Finnish Chamber Opera (assistant stage director and stage manager; stage director Vilppu Kiljunen).
- 2009 – Haydn: Il mondo della luna, Kulttuuritalo Gloria (assistant stage director; stage director Ville Saukkonen).
- 2009 – Holst: The Planets (stage manager, video art coordinator; Helsinki Festival, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra; conductor John Storgårds; video artist Petri Ruikka).
- 2012 – Wagner: Tristan und Isolde (assistant stage manager; Helsinki Festival, Baltic Sea Festival Stockholm; Radio Symphony Orchestra Helsinki; conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen; stage director Peter Sellars).
- 2013 – Mozart: Don Giovanni (assistant stage director and stage manager; New Generation Opera, Helsinki Festival; stage director Erik Söderblom).
- 2013 – Hyytiäinen: La Figure de la Terre (assistant stage director and stage manager; Sophiensaele, Berlin; stage director Jaakko Nousiainen).
- 2014 – Hyytiäinen: Aikainen 3D Opera (Grimeborn Festival London; stage director Jaakko Nousiainen).
- 2014 – Bertelsmeier: Querelle (Deutsche Oper Berlin; stage director Tilman Hecker).
- 2015 – Strauss: Salome (stage director Kirill Serebrennikov; Stuttgart Opera); Ayres: Peter Pan.
- 2015 – Pohjola: Harrbådan neito; Sibelius: Neito tornissa (assistant stage director and stage manager; stage director Aku-Petteri Pahkamäki; West Coast Kokkola Opera).
- 2015 – Puccini: Gianni Schicchi; Bartók: Bluebeard's Castle (Komische Oper Berlin; stage director Calixto Bieito).
- 2016 – Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (stage director David Bösch); Halévy: La Juive (stage director Calixto Bieito; Bavarian State Opera).
- 2016 – Hoffmann: Ahti Karjalainen: elämä, Kekkonen ja teot (reprise direction; stage director Juha Hurme; West Coast Kokkola Opera).
TV work
[edit]- 2008 – Risto Ryti - vapauden vanki (DVD studio recording of the Finnish Chamber Opera production; directed by Ilkka Kuusisto).
- 2009 – Talo Ranskassa (French-language educational series; produced by YLE Teema).
Other work
[edit]- 2018 – Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe: Wagnerstimmen Singing Competition Final (member of the jury).[19]
- 2018 – Kyiv, Ukraine: Theaterfestival GRA (competition; member of the jury).
- 2019–2020 – Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe: Executive team member and head of dramaturgy.[20][21][22]
- 2020–2023 – Theater Dortmund, Academy for Theatre and Digitality (member of the jury).[23]
References
[edit]- ^ Taulavuori, Riitta. "Ooppera tuo agitaation Kemiin - Punaisen viivan teemat ovat ohjaajan mukaan edelleen ajankohtaisia". Kaleva (in Finnish). Kaleva Media. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ^ Tilli, Inari. "Interview with Laura Åkerlund (in Finnish)". Yle Kantapöytä. Yle. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
- ^ Anastasio, Sofia (2019-10-04). "Dernière ligne droite pour le choix du futur directeur de l'Opéra de Lyon". Musiques – Actualité musicale. Radio France. France Musique. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Broquet, Sébastien (2019-10-22). "Richard Brunel est le nouveau directeur de l'Opéra de Lyon". Le petit Bulletin. Petit Bulletin. Agence Tintamarre Lyon. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Capron, Stéphane (2019-10-03). "Qui pour diriger l'Opéra de Lyon ?". Sceneweb.fr. Sceneweb. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Hondermarck, Maximilien (2021-04-19). "Natalie Dessay n'est plus dans la course à l'Opéra de Bordeaux". Forumopera. Forumopera - Le magasin du monde lyrique. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ "Laura Åkerlund, Executive producer, Stage director | Æviágrip". Operabase (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2024-01-16.
- ^ HS, Kulttuuri Lyhyesti (2016-09-16). "Helsingin koominen ooppera aloittaa Punahilkalla". Helsingin Sanomat. Sanoma Finland. Sanoma Finland. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Puukangas, Suvi (2016-09-07). "Puheen Iltapäivä: Koomisen Oopperan johtaja: "Diivojen aika on ohi"". Yle Radio. Yle Radio. Yle. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Mattila, Mattias (2016-08-08). "Suomi sai uuden oopperatalon – aikoo uudistaa käsityksen oopperasta". Yle Uutiset. Yle Uutiset. Yle. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Kytöharju, Marjo (2016-12-12). "Koomisen oopperan kintereillä". Kirkko ja kaupunki. K&k-media. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Tiikkaja, Samuli (2017-08-18). "Klassikko-oopperan ovelasta ketusta tuli koditon tyttö, jota yleisö seuraa läpi esitystilan". Helsingin Sanomat. Sanoma Finland. Sanoma Finland. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Kuusisaari, Harri (2017-08-19). "Arvio: Ennenkokematon oopperakonsepti on Juhlaviikkojen parasta antia". Rondo-lehti. Rondo-lehti. Rondo-lehti. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Lampila, Hannu-Ilari (2011-02-08). "Säveltäjätytön mielenmaisema". Helsingin Sanomat. Sanoma Finland. Sanoma Finland. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Hautsalo, Liisamaija. "Kulttuuritalossa kuultiin kelpo matkalaukkuversio oopperaharvinaisuudesta, joka on myös puolalaisten kansallinen symboli". Helsingin Sanomat. Sanoma Finland. Sanoma Finland. Retrieved 2018-08-23.
- ^ Nuutinen-Kallio, Taina (2018-03-21). "Punainen viiva on suuri merilappilainen voimainponnistus – oopperaa alueellamme on tarjolla harvoin". Lapin kansa. Kaleva Media. Kaleva Media. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Koskinen, Risto (2017-10-04). "Kemissä esitettävän Punainen viiva -oopperan laulajat julkistettiin". Yle Uutiset. Yle Uutiset. Yle. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Koskinen, Risto (2017-05-23). "Punainen viiva -ooppera esitetään ensi vuonna Kemin Tervahallilla – mukaan etsitään paikallisia laulajia". Yle Uutiset. Yle Uutiset. Yle. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ "Wagner Stimmen - richard-wagner.org". www.richard-wagner.org. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
- ^ Meldungen (27 May 2019). "Karlsruher Chefdramaturg Jan Linders geht nach Berlin". Nachtkritik.de. Nachtkritik.de.
- ^ Wagner, Jo (27 May 2019). "NEUSTRUKTURIERUNG DER KÜNSTLERISCHEN LEITUNG DES STAATSTHEATERS KARLSRUHE Jan Linders geht, Laura Åkerlund kommt". Wochenblatt-reporter.de. Wochenblatt Karlsruhe. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
- ^ "Staatstheater Karlsruhe: Finnin Laura Åkerlund neue Chefdramaturgin". No. 28.05.2019. Die Rheinpfalz.
- ^ "Akademie: Akademie für_Theater_und_Digitalität". theater.digital. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
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