Heiniö: The Knight and the Dragon (Riddaren och Draken), opera in two acts, libretto Bo Carpelan.
'At the heart of Mikko Heiniö’s The Knight and the Dragon is a potent Jungian allegory. The story of the struggle between forces of good and evil comes to be seen as symbolic of the conflict which rages within us all as individuals. In the story, good (Göran Sköld, a Nordic version of the mythical St George) defeats evil (the bandit Sören Drake – the ‘Dragon’), but the real triumph is Princess Marina’s realisation that she is herself a mixture of light and darkness, knight and dragon' (BBC Music Magazine).
Cast: Prince Erik: Curt Appelgren, bass-baritone; Marina, his daughter: Helena Juntunen, soprano; Göran Sköld: Charlotte Hellekant, mezzo-soprano; Sören Drake: Rúni Brattaberg, bass; The Jester: Aki Alamikkotervo, tenor; Black Lady: Sari Nordqvist, contralto, White Lady: Mia Huhta, soprano. With Turku Opera Chorus and Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Ulf Söderblom.
Music Web International: outstanding; International Record Review, outstanding.
