The National Opera has received feedback from its customers about the reform.
The National Opera and Ballet has given up paper lists of performers. TIINA SOMERPURO
Former CEO of the Bank of Finland Erkki Liikanen give in his Facebook post criticism for the National Opera.
Liikanen was watching Sebastian Fagerlund on Friday Morgonstjärnan – Morning Star -the premiere of the opera. The show itself gets praise from Liikasa. He gives praise to the music, script and direction, among other things.
However, Liikanen’s criticism concerns manual programs. According to Liikanen, they did not come with a tab listing the roles.
– When we picked up the opera manual, we started looking for the tab that lists the characters. Helena, Mari and others. But it was not found. What has happened? Too much to write.
Liikanen tells Iltalehte that instructions were given on the boards visible in the lobby. According to Liikanen, the lack of a tab caused a discussion during the break.
– We are two kinds of people. Others are ready to fiddle with their cell phones all the time, but there are some who don’t want to fiddle with their cell phones during a movie, concert, or opera. That we want to calm it down, states Liikanen.
– You have to focus on the experience and experience, and not hang on your cell phone at the same time, Liikanen says.
Liikanen states that the list of performers would have been important information because the opera was performed for the first time.
– I’m used to always getting it. Now if it is decided that it will go differently, you have to prepare differently in advance.
Erkki Liikanen gave criticism to the National Opera. KIMMO HAAPALA
The National Opera commented
Communications Manager of the National Opera and Ballet Katja Jokinen tells Iltalehti that the digital tab was switched to last fall, at the beginning of the 2025–2026 performance season. Therefore, a tab of about A5 size is no longer made from paper, but the information can now be found on the National Opera’s website in a separate sub-division service.
According to Jokinen, the aim of the reform is to make updated information about the show available to customers. In the past, the paper tabs were printed in a printing house and transported from there to the National Opera.
– Printing and transporting them has been quite a hassle. It also has such aspects of environmental responsibility, Jokinen opens and says that a similar transition has also been made in other European opera houses.
In addition to the digital tabs, up-to-date information about the show can be seen not only on the website but also on the digital screens in the warm rooms. Jokinen says that the change also reduces possible announcements related to performer changes in the hall before the start of the show.
– It’s true that when you go to the stand and want to look at certain performer information, you have to look it up on the phone, which of course we don’t hope anyone will do there during the show. On the other hand, you can’t even see it on paper in the hall to read during the performance.
Customers of the National Opera and Ballet have been informed about the reform. In autumn, the National Opera received feedback on the reform, especially from customers with season tickets. Recently, according to Jokinen, positive feedback has also started to come from regular visitors.
