Verdi: Don Carlos

Perfomances

Verdi: Don Carlos

Main Auditorium, Tampere Hall

Wed, March 4, 2026, at 6:30 PM (Premiere)
Fri, March 6, 2026, at 6:30 PM
Sun, March 8, 2026, at 3:00 PM
Tue, March 10, 2026, at 5 PM
Thu, March 12, 2026, at 6:30 PM
Sat, March 14, 2026, at 3:00 PM

Performance duration: approximately 3 hours 40 minutes, including one intermission.

The opera will be performed in Italian with Finnish and English surtitles.

Recommended for ages 12 and above.

Event changes are possible.

Production by Tampere Hall

Tickets

Tickets €115/€102/€82
Pensioners €106/€94/€74
The unemployed €75
Children (until 16-year-olds) and students €40

Some seats in the lowest price category may have restricted visibility. Technical equipment and staff are located in the centre section of row A15 in the rear balcony.

Tickets are available via Tampere Hall and Lippu.fi sales channels. For group bookings (10+ people), email ryhmamyynti@tampere-talo.fi or call +358 3 243 4501 (Mon–Fri, 10 AM–4 PM).

Please be prepared to present a valid discount entitlement (e.g., student card) upon request by Tampere Hall staff.

Information

The Artistic Team

Conductor Giancarlo Andretta
Director Tuomas Parkkinen
Set designer Juho Lindström
Costume designer Tuomas Lampinen

Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra
Tampere Opera Chorus
Choir conductor Heikki Liimola

Cast

Philip II, King of Spain, bass – Mika Kares

Elisabeth de Valois, Philip’s young French-born wife, soprano – Marjukka Tepponen

Don Carlos, Prince of Spain, Philip’s son from a previous marriage, tenor – Tigran Hakobyan

Rodrigo, Count, baritone – Arttu Kataja

Princess Eboli, Lady of the court, soprano – Maria Turunen

Thibault and the Voice from Heaven, soprano – Emma Kajander

The Grand Inquisitor, bass – Petri Lindroos

The Monk, bass – Markus Suihkonen

The Count of Lerma and the Royal Herald, tenors – Risto Piirainen, Taavi Niinimaa, Matti Skyttä

Tampere Opera celebrates 80 years – anniversary production is Verdi’s Don Carlos

Founded in 1946, Tampere Opera will mark its 80th anniversary in 2026, with Giuseppe Verdi’s (1813–1901) Don Carlos being its 132nd production.

One of the most significant and frequently performed operas, Don Carlos tells a dramatic story of love, power, and political intrigue within the Spanish royal family, intertwined with the dominance of the church. Considered Verdi’s most versatile opera, it features some of the most beautiful arias, duets, and powerful choral scenes in operatic history.

The anniversary production will feature internationally acclaimed opera stars. The role of King Philip is sung by bass Mika Kares, one of the most successful opera singers in the world today. The role of Elisabet de Valois is sung by soprano Marjukka Tepponen whose impressive career has taken her to major international and domestic opera stages.

The role of Don Carlos is sung by the young Armenian tenor Tigran Hakobyan who charmed audiences as Lensky in the Finnish National Opera’s Eugene Onegin in spring 2024. The role of Rodrigo is performed by baritone Arttu Kataja, a permanent member of the Staatsoper Berlin soloist ensemble since 2006.

The anniversary opera will be directed by Tuomas Parkkinen, one of Finland’s most sought-after opera directors and a well-known figure at Tampere Opera. Parkkinen previously worked as an assistant director in Tampere Opera productions from 1998 to 2002 and directed his first production in 2006.

The Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra will be conducted by maestro Giancarlo Andretta. The set design is created by Juho Lindström, and the costumes are designed by Tuomas Lampinen. The Tampere Opera Choir will train under the direction of choir conductor Heikki Liimola.

“A lavish interpretation in a grand setting”

Don Carlos has been performed at Tampere Opera three times before, in 2009, 1992, and 1990. Based on real historical figures, the opera follows the young Spanish prince Don Carlos (Hakobyan), who is in love with Elisabeth (Tepponen). However, fate and political maneuvering force Elisabeth to marry his father, King Philip II (Kares), instead.

“The father-son rivalry over the same woman is a fascinating theme both as a human experience and as a dramatic narrative. What also intrigues me is that every character in the opera must make a sacrifice – sacrificing love, freedom, their life, their son, or their homeland. We have world-class soloists who are also exceptional actors. As a director, my goal is nothing less than a world-class performance,” says Tuomas Parkkinen.

According to Parkkinen, the creative team will craft a production that resonates with modern audiences while honouring historical tradition. The 16th-century setting will be reflected in the stage design, which draws inspiration from Spanish architecture. The Catholic Church and its authoritative influence are also key elements of the interpretation, as religion is at the core of Don Carlos’ dramatic conflict.

“The characters in this opera are aristocrats, members of a European royal family, living by their own rules and laws in an opulent world of their own. Tampere’s Don Carlos will be a luxurious, passionate, emotionally gripping, intoxicatingly rich, and a lavish interpretation in a grand setting. And not a single dull moment!” Parkkinen promises.

The Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation has supported Tampere Opera in 2024–2025.

Opera buffet

The Don Carlos menu (pre-purchase required, €42/person, incl. VAT) will be served at Tampere Hall restaurants on Sunday, March 8, 2026, and Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 1 to 3 PM.

The hearty buffet features Mediterranean flavors inspired by the world of Don Carlos, with delicious options also available for vegetarians and vegans.

The Opera Ticket + Buffet package can be selected among the ticket types in the online store. Any dietary restrictions must be notified to the restaurant by email no later than one week before the performance.

The opera buffet can also be booked for groups of more than 20 people in connection with other performances.

Reservations and inquiries: ravintola@tampere-talo.fi