Atte Kilpinen: Carmen & Kirkastettu yö
Atte Kilpinen: Kirkastettu yö
Ballet dancer Atte Kilpinen’s new premiere, Kirkastettu yö, transports the audience to a wintry forest – a quiet, moonlit moment where time seems to stand still and every movement comes into sharper focus.
The duet is set to Arnold Schoenberg’s composition Verklärte Nacht (1899). Originally inspired by a story of two lovers, the music takes on a new meaning in Kilpinen’s interpretation: on stage, the work explores the love between a mother and son and the continuity of generations.
At the heart of the work are a powerful sense of presence and the dancers’ different stages of their careers. What can the dancers teach each other, and what might they discover about themselves in the process? On stage: Nina Hyvärinen and Kasperi Kolehmainen.
Carmen & Atte Kilpinen
Carmen – A Story of Freedom and Identity
The original Carmen is a story of passion, love, jealousy and the longing for freedom. In Kilpinen’s interpretation, the story takes on a new, psychologically compelling dimension.
Rather than focusing on the traditional love tragedy between Carmen and Don José, Kilpinen explores an individual’s inner conflict. Don José discovers Carmen within himself – his own feminine side, which he is afraid to accept or reveal to the world around him.
The work’s tragic ending thus also becomes a metaphor for self-denial. Destroying Carmen means destroying an essential part of his own identity.
Kilpinen’s choreography raises questions about the extent to which societal expectations, gender roles and fear of others’ judgement shape a person’s ability to be their authentic self.
Organiser: Atte Kilpinen
Production: Ballet Finland (Kirkastettu yö) / Sinfonia Lahti (Carmen)
Trailer
Biographies
Atte Kilpinen
Atte Kilpinen (b. 1996) has become one of Finland’s most renowned dancers in recent years. Immediately after graduating from Turku Conservatory in 2015, he joined the Finnish National Ballet. Kilpinen was later invited to join the Hamburg Ballet, where John Neumeier promoted him to soloist. Today, he is a first soloist at the Finnish National Ballet and is also widely known for his television appearances.
Kilpinen’s choreography Carmen transforms the familiar operatic love tragedy into profound questions about gender identity.
“Although I tell the story solely through Don José, it encompasses the stories of both main characters,” Kilpinen explains. “The man discovers a woman within himself, Carmen, who he may have been all along. Yet he does not dare to fully embrace his femininity and ultimately ends up killing her – and with her, an essential part of himself. Perhaps he acts under the pressure of societal expectations, or perhaps he cannot come to terms with his own femininity. I believe this story resonates with many people today.”
Nina Hyvärinen
Nina Hyvärinen is a highly respected Finnish ballet dancer whose career as a star of the Finnish National Ballet spanned more than two decades. She is known for her powerful stage presence, technical virtuosity and ability to interpret both the great roles of classical ballet and demanding works of contemporary dance.
One of the highlights of Hyvärinen’s career was her performance in the dual role of Odette/Odile in Swan Lake at the opening of the new Finnish National Opera House in 1993. Her extensive repertoire also includes classical ballets such as Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Don Quixote and The Nutcracker. She has performed in works by some of the world’s most acclaimed choreographers, including Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, George Balanchine and Jorma Uotinen.
Hyvärinen’s international career has taken her to stages across Europe and Asia. She has worked with Carolyn Carlson’s dance company in Paris and performed at the Venice Biennale in Il Freddo dell’Acqua, a solo work created for her by Carlson.
Hyvärinen’s exceptional career has been recognised with several honours, including the international Philip Morris Dance Award and the Knight’s Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland. Her artistic expression combines the elegance of classical ballet, the sensitivity of contemporary dance and a commanding stage presence refined over decades of experience.
Kasperi Kolehmainen
Kasperi Kolehmainen is a Finnish professional dancer known for his versatile movement vocabulary, powerful physical expression and intense stage presence. He graduated from the Ballet School of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet in 2022 and has since worked extensively across the Finnish dance and performing arts scene.
Kolehmainen has performed in productions by Susanna Leinonen Company, Pori Dance Company and Dance Theatre Glims & Gloms, among others. Throughout his career, he has worked with several acclaimed choreographers, including Jorma Uotinen, Susanna Leinonen, Riku Lehtopolku, Reija Wäre, Carl Knif and Tuomo Railo.
His stage credits include Mozart Mozart and Bach Project. In addition to contemporary dance, Kolehmainen has worked across a wide range of performing arts productions. He was awarded the Imatra Art Prize in 2019.
Alongside his stage career, Kolehmainen has appeared in television productions, music videos and commercial projects. His work as a dancer is characterised by technical versatility, dynamic expression and an ability to combine powerful physicality with sensitive interpretation.
Credits
Kirkastettu yö
Choreography: Atte Kilpinen
Dancers: Nina Hyvärinen, Kasperi Kolehmainen
Lighting and set design: Tuomas Honkanen
Costume design: Erika Turunen
Production: Ballet Finland
Carmen
Choreography: Atte Kilpinen
Dance: Atte Kilpinen
Music: Georges Bizet – selected pieces from the opera Carmen
Lighting design: Tuomas Honkanen
Originally commissioned by: Sinfonia Lahti
Ticket information
Standard ticket | A 55 € – B 47 € – C 39 €
Discount ticket | A 33 € – B 28 € – C 24 € Under 25, students, unemployed, civil servants and conscripts.
Pensioners | A 49,50 € – B 42 € – C 35 €
Professionals | A 33 € – B 28 € – C 24 € Members of STST and SVÄV.
Group ticket | A 46 € – B 42 € – C 35 € 10 persons and above. Group ticketes can be purchased online or contact Dance House Helsinki: info@tanssintalo.fi
Please be prepared to present proof of eligibility for the discount.
To ensure good visibility to everyone, The Erkko Hall auditorium is steep. Please note that there is no lift to the upper section. Only the first row seats are fully accessible.
For ticket inquiries, please contact: info@tanssintalo.fi
