The Berliner Philharmoniker and Marin Alsop will give the World Premiere of Day Night Day, Outi Tarkiainen’s new orchestral work, on February 20, 2025, at the concert Images of nature, part of the orchestra’s Biennale “Paradise lost? – On the threat to nature”.
Jointly commissioned by the Berliner Philharmoniker, Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Day Night Day is an orchestral work about nature in the Arctic Circle, and the importance of both light and darkness.
The idea for this piece came to Tarkiainen while working on her upcoming Sámi opera Day of Night*, jointly commissioned by Aalto Musiktheater Essen and Finnish National Opera and Ballet. A multilingual Sámi story, with a libretto by Aleksi Barrière, based on Niillas Holmberg’s novel Halla Helle.
The opera is about vast contrasts and contradictions, just like life in the Arctic. Each act of the opera begins with an orchestral prelude, symbolising the seasons changing and in Day Night Day we dive into the change from darkness to light.
Performance details
World Premiere
February 20-22, 2025
Berliner Philharmoniker
Marin Alsop, conductor
Finnish Premiere
Season 25/26
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
U.S. Premiere
Season 25/26
Boston Symphony Orchestra
*Day of Night will receive its World Premiere at the Aalto Theatre in Essen in January 2027 and its Finnish Premiere at the Finnish National Opera and Ballet in October 2027.
