Rautavaara and The House of the Sun - An Introduction to the Opera and its ComposerLaajuus (2 ECTS)

Objective

This study course introduces the Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara (1928-2016), his life and his oeuvre. The topic is considered especially from the perspective of his opera The House of the Sun (1991), because of its up-to-date content and its suitability to represent Rautavaara’s thinking and musical style. The opera itself is produced by Metropolia Music in mid-October 2021, thus giving an opportunity to experience it as a live performance alongside a study course.

The students can accomplish the study course independently in Metropolia’s digital learning platform Moodle. It consists of various topics, which often start with a short video opening up the production process of an opera and the various tasks behind the scene prior to the premiere. At that, the topics include literal lessons, musical learning content plus short tests.

Goals of the study course, a student´s core competencies: The student
•Orientates him/herself with Rautavaara’s life, thinking, and oeuvre
•Familiarizes him/herself with the background and real-life story behind the opera The House of the Sun
•Recognizes the structure, singing roles and the musical idiom of the opera
•Understands the various tasks and the expertise underlying the production of The House of the Sun.

Evaluation scale is accepted/rejected