Sofi-Elina Oksanen (born 7 January 1977) is a Finnishwriter and playwright. Oksanen has published six novels, of which "Purge" has gained the widest recognition. She has received several international and domestic awards for her literary work. Her work has been translated into more than 40 languages[1] and sold more than two million copies. Oksanen has been called "Finnish-Estonian Charles Dickens" and her work has often been compared to Margaret Atwood's novels.[2]Oksanen is actively involved in public debate in Finland and comments on current issues in her columns and various talk shows.
Oksanen's first play "Purge" (Puhdistus) was staged at the Finnish National Theatre in 2007. From out of the play grew Oksanen's third novel "Purge" (2008).[6] It ranked number 1 on the bestseller list for fiction in Finland when it was published[7] and has received numerous awards, both in Finland and abroad.
From October 2011, the play was produced in 15 countries, with productions in Norway, France, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Iceland,[9] Lithuania, Germany,[10] Ukraine,[11] and Hungary. It premiered in London at the Arcola Theatre from 22 February to 24 March with a new production directed by Elgiva Field.[12] In Canada it premiered in 2021.[13]
Her novel "Baby Jane" has also been adapted into an opera "Baby Jane".[16] The composer is Markus Kärki. Helsingin Sanomat called it an opera event of the season.[17]
Her fourth novel "When the Doves Disappeared" (Kun kyyhkyset katosivat) was published on 31 August 2012 and it was the most sold Finnish novel of the year.[19] The title refers to German soldiers catching and eating all the pigeons in Tallinn during the Nazi German occupation of Estonia during World War II.[20]
The book was translated into English by Lola Rogers: "When the Doves Disappeared: A novel". (Knopf, 2015. ISBN978-0-385-35017-4.)
Oksanen wrote a libretto for Kaija Saariaho's opera "Innocence." The world premiere was scheduled for 2020 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in London, but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The opera had its world premiere on 3 July 2021 at the Grand Théâtre de Provence as part of the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence.[21][22] The opera was called a "triumph" and a "masterpiece" in the press, and its international reception was overwhelmingly positive. Le Monde said it already has a place in the history of opera.[23] Oksanen's libretto was described masterly,[24] innovative,[25] palpitating [23] and thrilling. Les Echos reviewed the libretto perfect for stage and said: "From the libretto to the staging, everything promises this dark and strong work a great future in the biggest international theatres."[26] The magazine "Transfuge" praised Oksanen's libretto for it remarkable format and chilling efficiency: "Each character has its identity, its language, its drama, its specter."[27] After the world premiere the opera will travel to Finland's National Opera, Dutch National Opera, Royal Opera House (Covent Garden) and San Francisco Opera House.[28]
Oksanen has also written numerous articles published in international newspapers. The topics are often related to freedom of speech, women's rights, Russian politics, information war, immigration and Finlandization. In 2014, Die Welt published her article about information war from the point of view of former Eastern Bloc countries.[29]
Her novel, "Norma", translated by Owen F. Witesman, was published in English by Knopf in the US, Atlantic in the UK and House of Anansi in Canada.
Oksanen's novel "The Dog Park" came out in English in 2021 published by Knopf in the US, Atlantic in the UK and House of Anansi in Canada. The translator was Owen F. Witesman.
Two of her novels have been adapted into movies, "Purge" and "Baby Jane". The movie rights for "When the Doves Disappeared" and "Stalin's Cows" have been acquired.[30]
Personal life
Sofi Oksanen and her husband, Juha Korhonen, were married in 2011 in Helsinki.[31]
Works
Novels
Stalin's Cows (original title Stalinin lehmät, published in Finnish 2003)
Baby Jane (original title Baby Jane, published in Finnish 2005)
Purge (original title Puhdistus, published in Finnish 2007)
When the Doves Disappeared (original title Kun Kyyhkyset katosivat, published in Finnish 2012)
Norma (original title Norma, published in Finnish 2015)
The Dog Park (original title Koirapuisto, published in Finnish 2019)
Plays
The Blue-cheeked girls (original title Siniposkiset tytöt, 2005)[32]
Purge (original title Puhdistus, the world premiere at the Finnish National Theatre, 2007)
When the Doves Disappeared (original title Kun kyyhkyset katosivat, the world premiere at the Finnish National Theatre, 2013)
I love you already (original title Rakastan sinua jo nyt, 2017)[33]
Lyrics/Poems
Too short skirt – tales from the kitchen (original title Liian lyhyt hame - kertomuksia keittiöstä, 2011)[34]
Libretto
Innocence – opera by Kaija Saariaho, world premiere 2021 at the festival Aix-en-Provence
Eino Leino was a Finnish poet and journalist who is considered one of the pioneers of Finnish poetry and a national poet of Finland. His poems combine modern and Finnish folk elements. Much of his work is in the style of the Kalevala and folk songs in general. Nature, love, and despair are frequent themes in Leino's work. He is beloved and widely read in Finland today.
Kaija Anneli Saariaho was a Finnish composer based in Paris, France. During the course of her career, Saariaho received commissions from the Lincoln Center for the Kronos Quartet and from IRCAM for the Ensemble Intercontemporain, the BBC, the New York Philharmonic, the Salzburg Music Festival, the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, and the Finnish National Opera, among others. In a 2019 composers' poll by BBC Music Magazine, Saariaho was ranked the greatest living composer.
The origins of Finnish opera can be traced to the late 18th or 19th century, when the first opera performances were staged in Finland. It is generally assumed that the first opera performance in Finland took place in 1768 in Turku, when the troupe of Carl Gottlieb Seuerling presented the opera Adam und Eva by Johann Theile. However, other sources state that there was no orchestra at this performance.
Paul-Eerik Rummo is an Estonian poet, playwright, translator and politician who was the former Estonian Minister of Culture and Education, as well as the former Estonian Minister of Population Affairs.
Comet in Moominland is a Dutch-Japanese anime film by Telecable Benelux B.V. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Finnish illustrator and writer Tove Jansson, originally published in Swedish. It was the first full-length Moomin film, and serves as a prequel to the 1990 anime series Moomin, introducing characters that would later appear in the series. It was released in Japan first theatrically on August 8, 1992 as a triple-feature with two unrelated shorter films, and was later released on home video with 10 minutes of extra footage.
L'Amour de loin is an opera in five acts with music by Kaija Saariaho and a French-language libretto by Amin Maalouf. The opera received its world premiere performance on 15 August 2000 at the Salzburg Festival.
Adriana Mater is the second opera by the Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho, with a libretto in French by her frequent collaborator, Amin Maalouf. The Opéra National de Paris and the Finnish National Opera jointly commissioned the opera. It received its world premiere at the Opéra Bastille on 3 April 2006 in a production directed by Peter Sellars. The production was dedicated to Gerard Mortier, Artistic Director of the Paris Opera.
La Passion de Simone is an oratorio composed by Kaija Saariaho to a libretto in French by Amin Maalouf, first premiered in a staging by Peter Sellars. The work, subtitled "a musical journey in 15 stations", centers on the life and writings of Simone Weil and was conceived in the Passion Play tradition with episodes in her life linked to the Stations of the Cross. It is composed for SATB chorus, soprano soloist, spoken voice, orchestra and electronic instruments.
Veija "Veijo" Oskari Baltzar is a Romani author and visual artist from Finland.
Antti Juhanpoika Jokinen is a Finnish music video and film director as well as a former college basketball player. He is married to actress Krista Kosonen.
Émilie is an opera – specifically a 9-scene, 75-minute monodrama for soprano – by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho to a libretto by Amin Maalouf. It was written in 2008. Based on the life and writings of Marquise Émilie du Châtelet (1706–1749), the work premiered at the Opéra de Lyon, France, on 1 March 2010, with Finnish soprano Karita Mattila, its dedicatee, in the title role. It recounts the achievements of this mathematician, physicist, and mistress of Voltaire: the first woman to establish an international scientific reputation, with pioneering work in the study of fire.
Jüri Reinvere is an Estonian composer, poet and essayist who has been living in Germany since 2005. Jüri Reinvere's polystylistic art does not follow any dogmas of material nor technique. It is often devoted to existential themes of history, nature, politics and the poetics of human perception. His poetry and music theatre works are based on precise psychological observation and are often accompanied by subtle theological allusions. His essays in Postimees and in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung take part in debates on current cultural and political affairs and have been awarded with prizes for journalism in Estonia. His music has received international attention through conductors such as Andris Nelsons, Paavo Järvi, Franz Welser-Möst, Pablo Heras-Casado, Juraj Valcuha or Pietari Inkinen and through orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Purge is a novel by Finnish-Estonian writer Sofi Oksanen, which has been translated into thirty-eight languages. Oksanen's third Finnish-language novel, Purge was published in 2008 and is based upon her original play of the same name, staged at the Finnish National Theatre in 2007.
Imbi Paju is an Estonian-born journalist, writer and filmmaker resident in Finland.
Purge is a 2012 Finnish drama film directed by Antti Jokinen, based on the novel of the same name by Sofi Oksanen. The film was selected as the Finnish entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards, but it did not make it to the final shortlist. At the 2013 Jussi Award, the film received eight nominations, including Best Film, Best Direction and Best Costume Design. It won Best Actress for Birn, Best Supporting Actress for Liisi Tandefelt, along with Best Cinematography, Best Sound Design and Best Make-Up Design. Birn was also nominated for the Satellite Award for Best Actress.
Paavo Olavi Rintala was a Finnish novelist and theologian. He also wrote theatre pieces, radio plays and prose.
Tiina Puumalainen is a Finnish theatre director and a playwright. She has directed drama, opera and musicals for the stage.
Serge Lamothe is a French-Canadian writer.
Taavi Eelmaa is an Estonian stage and film actor.
Innocence is an opera in five acts by the Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho. The libretto was written in Finnish by Sofi Oksanen and translated/adapted by Aleksi Barrière.
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