Savonlinna Opera Festival

About

“World class opera in a medieval lakeside castle, under the barely setting sun of the magical Nordic summer — this is only possible at Savonlinna Opera Festival.”

–Artistic Director Ville Matvejeff

First-class opera in a medieval castle

The Savonlinna Opera Festival is Finland’s premiere cultural event. World renowned for its high-quality opera performances and concerts, every summer it brings music lovers from across the globe to the charming lakeside city of Savonlinna. The month-long festival is held in Olavinlinna, a towering medieval castle by Finland’s largest lake. This creates a uniquely dramatic ambiance for its 70 000 visitors. Once inside, festival-goers are dazzled by classics and rarely seen works as well as world premieres and visiting productions from esteemed opera houses like La Scala and the Bolshoi Theatre. 

Dramatic setting meets excellent acoustics

Built in 1475, Olavinlinna Castle is the world’s northernmost medieval castle still standing. Set on an island amidst the breathtaking beauty of Finnish Lakeland, during the festival, it’s illuminated by the white nights of the Finnish summer. Combine the castle’s extraordinary atmosphere with its excellent acoustics and covered auditorium in the courtyard, and it’s easy to see why the festival promises such an unparalleled opera experience.

A summer paradise in the Finnish Lakeland 

Savonlinna is located in southeast Finland in the heart of the Finnish Lakeland, Europe’s largest lake district. Built on a series of islands, the city is known for its tumultuous history near the Finnish border and its rugged nature. As a visitor, you can explore the area’s abundance of lakes, forests and wildlife, such as Lake Saimaa’s rare species of freshwater seal, the Saimaa ringed seal.