Latvala and Hänninen reunite inside Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 Last competing together at Rally Finland the two Finns will take on Juho's local round of the Finnish championship Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala just cannot resist getting back in the driver’s seat as often as his professional commitments allow This year Latvala will be job-sharing with Juha Kankkunen in his role as Toyota’s WRC team boss so that he can contest an FIA European Historic Rally Championship campaign aboard his beloved Toyota Celica Turbo ST185 His EHRC season opener in Spain may kick off only next week but Latvala will be out in action before then in more contemporary machinery Latvala and Toyota test driver Juho Hänninen – who has regularly co-driven for him over the past five years – will take the start of this Saturday’s Savonlinna Ralli (March 8) the third round of the Finnish championship is also Hänninen’s home event This time the pair will compete in the same GR Yaris Rally2 that they took to second in WRC2 on last year’s Rally Finland “Juho has been requesting that would we drive over there but eventually there was now coming an opportunity to drive a Rally2 car the very same car we drove on the Rally Finland 2024 So we’re going to go out there to see what is our level [compared with] the youngsters.” Savonlinna is just a stone’s throw from Hänninen birthplace of Punkaharju but it is not a familiar region for Latvala “I’ve never been driving myself in this area so it’s a new area for me,” he admitted so I said to him that you could actually do maybe one of the stages He said: ‘I don’t have a budget to do the stages!’” Tags: , 2025 DirtFish https://dirtfish.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/LATVALA09FIN24tb301-780x520.jpg March 3 Sign up today and be the first to know about special offers Legal Verdi's Nabucco at the 2024 Savonlinna Opera Festival Read on to discover the unlikely link between Verdi’s 'Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves' and climate change… Since its composition in 1841, Verdi’s Nabucco has attracted love and admiration in equal measure the opera Verdi himself claimed ‘with which my artistic career really begins’.  Undoubtedly the opera’s most famous and frequently-performed section is the powerful ‘Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves’ Over the years the chorus has inspired many interpretations – encompassing far more than the opera’s Old Testament plot of Hebrew captivity at the hands of the Babylonians.  Some believe Verdi composed his ‘Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves’ in support of Italian patriots, seeking to unify their country. And such is the feeling of hope and pride it inspires that several leading figures over the years have suggested it should replace Italy’s official national anthem Riccardo Muti even used the work’s patriotic message to appeal to Italian authorities proposing arts budget cuts in 2011 But at the 2024 Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland Nabucco’s power to move audiences is supporting a thoroughly modern cause.. Director Rodula Gaitanou’s new production remakes an ancient struggle for the modern age the Babylonian oppressors represent ‘the cold world of machines and technocrats who disregard the value of nature’ And the oppressed Israelites are ‘eco-warriors who defend nature and human values’.  If such recent concerns are at times a little awkwardly draped over the work’s ancient setting in the 'Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves' Gaitanou’s message is suddenly "Va pensiero" has a strong symbolic meaning,' she says It’s testament to the work’s strength – that wonderful synthesis of idealistic lyrics and uplifting music – that it so easily speaks for multiple causes.  And it’s a reminder that the test for all great art – from Bach to Shakespeare – is its ability to speak to the heart Seuraa ePressiä sosiaalisessa mediassa ja tilaa uutissyöte suoraan palveluun The Savonlinna Opera Festival 2025 proudly announces the directors for two highly anticipated opera revivals this summer Acclaimed Finnish director Vilppu Kiljunen will helm Giuseppe Verdi’s Macbeth while celebrated German director Roman Hovenbitzer will take charge of reviving Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot Both productions return to the stage after over a decade’s pause Originally directed by the grand old man of Finnish theatre and member of the Arts Academy Ralf Långbacka (1932-2022) and designed by Anneli Qveflander Macbeth at the Savonlinna Opera Festival saw its premiere in 1993 The production has ever since traveled worldwide captivating audiences from Santiago de Chile to Beijing Celebrated for his nuanced storytelling and theatrical artistry Vilppu Kiljunen is one of the most influential figures in Finnish opera and theatre He has directed several successful productions at Savonlinna Opera Festival Kiljunen will lead the revival of Verdi’s Macbeth a dramatic opera masterpiece based on William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy “Working in Savonlinna is always an exciting challenge as Olavinlinna inspires and sets its own specific requirements for stage productions” “Långbacka's interpretation of Macbeth is based on the strength of the dramatic base and its fidelity to the original work it makes sense to refresh the interpretation of this production also as I am familiar with the work through my previous stagings.”  originally directed and visually designed by Pet Halmen (1943-2012) has mesmerized audiences since its premiere in 2003 the celebrated German opera director Roman Hovenbitzer known for his highly acclaimed production of Lohengrin at the Savonlinna Opera Festival and who has also priorly worked with Halmen himself The combination of Halmen’s iconic stage design and Hovenbitzer’s theatrical precision ensures that Savonlinna’s Turandot remains a festival highlight “Turandot is an opera of extremes - between power and love With his unique orchestration and melodies inspired by imaginations of the Far East Puccini created a world of sound that still fascinates today - a world that translates exceptionally well to the stage of Olavinlinna" “Macbeth and Turandot are two of the most intense works in opera literature These traditional Savonlinna productions have very particular and beloved visual worlds Now it’s time to bring back their old magic with a fresh touch after over a decade’s pause We have the luxury of welcoming the experienced masters to lead these Savonlinna Opera Festival revivals” “I’m delighted that we may present these visually stunning productions in their original form and I’m expecting these revivals to be as vibrant as the premiere showings This will be a true tribute to the remarkable work and legacy for Savonlinna by the two late opera masters Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Olavinlinna Castle the Savonlinna Opera Festival 2025 continues its tradition of bringing world-class opera to Finland’s summer landscape the festival reaffirms its commitment to excellence The Savonlinna Opera Festival is one of the internationally most known cultural events in Finland Founded in 1912 and awarded as the Best Opera Festival Award at the International Opera Awards in 2024 its founder of the festival Aino Ackté has crystallized the experience: “a world class opera performance in a romantic medieval castle in the middle of the Lakeland views is truly a unique and unforgettable experience” For more information and tickets, visit https://operafestival.fi/en/ More on Macbeth: https://operafestival.fi/en/ohjelmisto/macbeth/  More on Turandot: https://operafestival.fi/en/ohjelmisto/turandot/  Photo bank: https://savonlinnaoperafestival.kuvat.fi/kuvat/   Further informationMyy Honkanen, Myy-Promotion+358 40 574 3577[email protected]  Konstanze Kaas [email protected]+49 173 63 54 204  CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation and Savonlinna Opera Festival held the first-ever “Sound of Peace – Geopolitics at the Opera” High-Level Discussions on July 6th 2024 bringing together diplomacy and culture in the historic city of Savonlinna Ambassadors from 14 countries as well as representatives from CMI and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland gathered for this inaugural event The event brought together ambassadors from 14 countries alongside representatives from CMI and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland to engage in discussions on the role of mediation and dialogue in a shifting world order where geopolitics has emerged as a key concern for security The discussions were led by keynote speaker H.E Senior Fellow at Carnegie Europe and former Secretary-General of the European External Action Service The conversations underscored the essential need for dialogue in the current European context The European Union has long been celebrated as one of the world’s most significant peace processes and in recent years the EU has bolstered its role as an active mediator in international conflicts the current focus has shifted towards armament and the use of force as paths to peace This makes conversations about peace and dialogue as a tool ever more crucial Pierre Vimont held the keynote speech of the event Ambassador Vimont holds the title of “Ambassadeur de France” which has been bestowed upon only a few French diplomats The aim of the High-Level Discussions was to discuss the role of mediation and dialogue in a shifting world order It was emphasised that Europe must engage with global conflicts Achieving compromise and solutions through dialogue has become more challenging with short-term political goals overshadowing the slow process of building and maintaining trust participants saw opportunities for Europe to define its role as a proactive global actor crafting an influential geopolitical position and a shared narrative for a better future Preserving traditional diplomatic skills and channels is vital yet Europe should also be proactive and agile forging new relationships and innovating amidst the current struggles of multilateralism This sentiment was strongly supported by Janne Taalas who emphasised our mission to resolve conflicts through mediation “President Martti Ahtisaari founded CMI on the belief that all conflicts are solvable Mediation is a vital aspect of international politics as it addresses conflicts and their root causes It is essential that dialogue and the pursuit of peace are seen as integral components of comprehensive security Every opportunity to strengthen dialogue must be seized and our collaboration with the Savonlinna Opera Festival provided an excellent platform for this,” Taalas stated CEO of CMI Janne Taalas welcoming guests to the event at Rauhalinna Artistic Director of the Savonlinna Opera Festival highlighted the festival’s role as a facilitator for such significant discussions “The Savonlinna Opera Festival is internationally recognised and serves as an ideal venue for both informal and formal decision-making forums The midnight opera performance on Lake Saimaa perfectly complements meaningful decisions and discussions The festival aims to support and enable conversations like those at the Sound of Peace event,” Matvejeff explained Artistic Director of Savonlinna Opera Festival The event provided a unique venue for diplomats and peacebuilders to engage openly in critical conversations about the future of global security and the essential role of mediation in achieving lasting peace The blend of insightful dialogue and cultural enrichment exemplified by the premiere of Verdi’s “Nabucco,” created an atmosphere conducive to open and meaningful exchanges This successful event was made possible by the support of various partners Their contributions ensured that Sound of Peace was not just about discussions but an experience that brought together diplomacy As the world faces evolving geopolitical challenges the importance of such platforms cannot be overlooked Views over Lake Saimaa from Olavinlinna Castle after the premiere of Nabucco at Savonlinna opera Festival Rally driver Patrick Enok and his co-driver Aleks Lesk stormed to victory in the second-tier SM2 class at the Savonlinna Rally in Finland securing their second consecutive Finnish Championship win with a dominant final stage performance in brutal conditions The race at Savonlinna in southeastern Finland was the third round of the national Finnish Rally Championship Enok said: "Although the times might suggest otherwise we weren't holding back in the first half of the day Renault's advantage over Ford became evident." "The time on the final stage was a bit of a surprise even though from inside the car it felt like we hadn't left much on the track but it seems like we managed to find an extra gear on the last stage," Enok went on This was his second consecutive victory in the SM2 class of the Finnish Rally Championship he climbed to the top position in the season standings Their ability to adapt to the unpredictable terrain ultimately secured the Estonian pair the top spot the Estonians recorded the seventh-fastest time losing 9.5 seconds to stage winner Ville Vatanen which lifted them to third place overall (+14.8) Vatanen rolled his car on the third stage and had to retire allowing the Estonians to claim the lead with their first stage win of the day This unexpected turn of events reshuffled the leaderboard creating new opportunities for Enok and Lesk the penultimate stage of the rally was canceled meaning that the SM2 class winners were determined by the final 23.61 km stage which was anything but easy due to thawing weather The overall victory in the Savonlinna Rally went to Esapekka Lappi / Enni Mälkönen (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) with Enok and Lesk finishing sixth overall The Finnish Championship season will continue on the last weekend of May with the Länsirannikon Rally in Turku which will also serve as the third round of the Terminal Estonian Rally Championship Follow ERR News on Facebook and Twitter and never miss an update! 0)" class="article-poll-disclaimer" ng-bind="totalVotes + ' hääletajat'"> {{option.votes}} {{selectedLanguage.poll.votes}}/ Iga kasutaja võib hääletada {{poll.optionLimit}} vastusevariandi poolt The National Theatre Opera ensemble has performed Bedřich Smetana's The Bartered Bride at the prestigious Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland The first of three performances directed by Alice Nellis and under the baton of Jaroslav Kyzlink took place on 27 July 2024 at Olanvinlinna Castle and was watched by 1,300 spectators The premiere performance was received by the opera audience with great enthusiasm The next two performances are scheduled for 30 July and 1 August 2024 Festival audiences can also look forward to a gala concert the program of which consists of arias from Czech operas by Bedřich Smetana the National Theatre Orchestra will be led by its music director Robert Jindra In addition to the soloists of the National Theatre Opera and the State Opera and our regular guests the audience will hear the star Finnish soprano Karita Mattila Czech audiences can also look forward to soprano Karita Mattila, who will perform the role of Kostelnička in Janáček's Jenůfa at the National Theatre in Prague on 11 and 16 September 2024 The National Theatre Opera's participation in the Savonlinna Opera Festival is part of the celebration of the Year of Czech Music 2024 News, special offers and discounts When a Finnair plane flies from Helsinki to Kemi and back, the Finnish state gets a bill for 8,586 euros. The proceeds of ticket sales are not enough to make the flights profitable. This kind of state-funded regional aviation hangs in the balance this spring, as the government looks for other bodies to fund the subsidies. This will primarily affect airports in Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kajaani, Kemi and Kokkola. Pori and Savonlinna municipalities already part-fund subsidies for their flights. In the spring, the government will decide what proportion of aviation subsidies municipalities will have to fund from 2026. Transport Minister Lulu Ranne (Finns) is exploring options to split the cost equally between central government and local councils. "The Savonlinna model for division of costs could be a sensible option, taking everything into consideration," said Ranne via email. Savonlinna municipality and the state have agreed that they will split the cost of the subsidies down the middle. A return flight between Helsinki and Savonlinna costs 7,489 euros in subsidies, and on top of that the airline gets the proceeds from ticket sales. The state and Savonlinna council are spending a million euros on subsidies for aviation to the southeastern town in 2025. The ministry says it wants equal treatment for provincial airports. That would mean Kemi would have to pay some four million euros over the two-year contract period to maintain its air link, and Jyväskylä would shell out some 3.6 million euros over the same time span. It is possible they could negotiate a smaller contribution for the municipalities. "It is difficult for the government to make the decision to support flight connections, but at the same time it is also tough for municipalities to fund them," said Heli Leinonkoski, Administrative Director at the City of Jyväskylä. The graphic shows how the state supports flights to different provincial airports. The state has paid for flights to five airports since 2021. The goal is that flights would return to profitability after Covid, and the subsidies would no longer be required. That has not happened. The links closest to profitability are those to Kajaani and Jyväskylä. "Seat occupancy is at best 50-60 percent, but the threshold for profitability is around 80 percent," said Pipsa Eklund from the transport agency Traficom. According to EU rules, subsidies are permitted if a route is regarded as a public service. In Finland that has been interpreted as meaning ten return flights a week, or two each weekday. That provides reasonable connections for passengers leaving regional airports in the morning to change planes at Helsinki, but less comprehensive service for those looking to travel to the provinces early in the day. which suggests a total of slightly under 500 individuals Growth is primarily occurring in the waters south of Savonlinna while numbers north of Savonlinna have remained stable Mild winters continue to threaten the breeding habitat increasing pup mortality Metsähallitus estimates the Saimaa ringed seal population for 2024 to be around 495 individuals This estimate reflects the population at the beginning of the year The population assessment is an expert estimate mainly based on lair census results and supplemented by various observations Based on lair counts conducted in spring 2024 it is estimated that 95 Saimaa ringed seal pups were born this year a figure consistent with the previous years where the annual number of pups has ranged between 90 and 100 because already 29 percent of the pups born this year have been found dead The majority of these deaths occurred within the first few weeks due to poor nesting conditions The cause of death could not be determined for 42 percent and one seal died from a generalized infection the actual mortality is estimated to be up to three times higher as only a small portion of wildlife deaths are observed and reported The high number of observations may partly be due to chance such as the increased likelihood of Lake Saimaa visitors finding dead seals and reporting them to Metsähallitus Changes in the Saimaa ringed seal population are always seen with a delay the impact of pup mortality on population growth becomes apparent approximately 4–6 years after the birth The current population is significantly affected by the weather conditions of the winter of 2020 resulting in high pup mortality caused by lack of snowdrifts for seal lairs though there are distinct differences between regions In the population monitoring areas south of Savonlinna the population has not grown in the northern areas of Savonlinna over the last six years about one-third of the Saimaa ringed seals live north of Savonlinna 44 percent of the total population inhabited the same area “It is very concerning that population growth of the Saimaa ringed seal has stalled in the northern parts of Lake Saimaa where approximately one third of the population lives The reason for the slowed growth in the northern areas is currently unknown,” says Miina Auttila a senior conservation specialist at Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Finland The greatest threats to the Saimaa ringed seal include the deterioration of breeding habitat due to climate change and shoreline construction The low number of the seal individuals and decreasing genetic diversity also threaten its ability to survive in a changing environment Although conservation efforts have increased the population over the past decades the Saimaa ringed seal remains endangered and dependent on continued protection Metsähallitus is responsible for monitoring the Saimaa ringed seal population and for a significant portion of conservation efforts More than 300 local volunteers participate annually in monitoring and various conservation actions such as lair counting and the shoveling of man-made snowdrifts to provide lair sites for the seals Data for the population estimate is obtained from annual nest counts and reported dead seals Observations of seals lying on the ice and the University of Eastern Finland's photo-ID data which identifies individuals based on their fur patterns The Our Saimaa Seal LIFE project is preparing for a warming climate by developing monitoring and conservation methods Metsähallitus' Norppatilanne service displays population estimates and causes of death can be explored by different regions and time periods Visit the service: metsa.fi/norppatilanne, in Finnish HELSINKI FINLAND Jenny Rautio is leading the creation of Samiedu's English-language practical nursing program She recently moved to Savonlinna from Norway Savonlinna’s Samiedu Vocational College will launch its first English-language practical nursing program Designed to attract more students to the region and address the labor shortage in the social and healthcare sectors the program is tailored to meet the specific needs of the Savonlinna area "The planning process for this new English-language program has been incredibly engaging We are eagerly looking forward to the start of the program and the international perspective it will bring," said Jenny Rautio a social and health care instructor at Samiedu Patient safety and regulatory requirements are key components of the practical nursing program applicants must have a basic understanding of the Finnish language from the outset The program will support Finnish language learning through various initiatives with English used as the instructional language until students achieve sufficient proficiency in Finnish "To work as a licensed practical nurse in Finland graduates must have adequate Finnish language skills and effective communication and guidance are fundamental to the role of a practical nurse," Rautio explained Applications for the first English-language social and health care qualification will open in early August with the program commencing in November 2024 The program will be conducted in-person in Savonlinna Details about the program are already available on Samiedu's website "The English-language practical nursing program further strengthens Samiedu’s offerings for individuals with immigrant backgrounds We currently have a well-established pathway from integration courses to the 'Immigrant Pathway to a Profession' program and from there to care assistant training and practical nursing or other vocational qualifications," said Mia Mäntysaari who oversees the development of the English-language practical nursing program at Samiedu relocated with her family to Savonlinna from Norway earlier this year She has a master’s degree in health sciences Advertisement inquiries and other after-sales issues: info@helsinkitimes.fi Helsinki Times is the first and only English language newspaper providing news about Finland in English A weekly print edition of Helsinki Times was published from March 2007 up until Feb Helsinki Times is an online-only publication and other groups and individuals interested in Finland from all around the world © Helsinki Times All rights reserved.  Terms of Use | Privacy Policy Each July Savonlinna’s 15th-century fortress rings with song as music fans descend on this beautiful we felt as if we were joining a medieval procession Ushers were guiding opera-goers down the cobbled streets and over the bridge which earlier that afternoon had swung open to allow us to sail into Savonlinna This is one of the world’s most unusual music festivals It takes place every July in the 15th-century Olavinlinna fortress on an island in Finland’s south-eastern lake district more of hardcore opera buffs willing to sit on wooden benches or hard chairs for three or more hours while you still file up the maze of stone staircases to the auditorium improved views of the stage and an awning offering protection from downpours – all of which were added last year to make the event more accessible Soprano Lisette Oropesa and pianist Rubén Fernández Aguirre performing at Savonlinna’s opera festival on 9 July 2023 Photograph: Jussi Silvennoinen.This summer’s programme includes a double bill of Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle and Outi Tarkiainen’s A Room of One’s Own – a combination of the Hungarian’s symbolist operatic drama and Virginia Woolf’s most feminist work and a pop concert by Katie Melua as more mainstream offerings All make full dramatic use of the all-enveloping thick stone ramparts that seem to echo a protagonist’s torments in a way no opera house can match this is also the place to try a lake cruise tentatively climbing down ladders on the jetty before hurrying back to saunas to warm up againFinland has nearly 200,000 lakes and Savonlinna proved a good starting point for a cruise given the comfortable four-hour ride on a doubledecker train from Helsinki which boasts a children’s play area as well as a restaurant car including the string of craft on the quayside There are 15 cruises from Savonlinna They range from short €15 trips and dinner cruises to multi-night stays You can choose to travel on a historic steamship or a motor cruiser or one of the newly added electric eco boats A lake cruise ship passes Savonlinna’s fortressMy parents and I took one of the more traditional craft for a two-day round trip heading northwards Inside the comfortable salon we sat down to coffee and pastries and gazed out at the landscape At other times we could scarcely see the shore many dotted with summer houses painted in traditional red and white tentatively climbing down ladders on the jetty before hurrying back to saunas to warm up again A Saimaa ringed seal pup in Savonlinna Photograph: Timo Sepp L Inen/EPALunch was a simple and while eating we scanned the horizon for our fellow fish-eaters: seals The Saimaa ringed seal is one of only three species of freshwater seal As late as 11,000 years ago a sheet at times nearly two miles thick covered the country creating this fissured landscape of ridges and channels Soon the tempting aroma of an early supper wafted into the cabin, as the tower of Kuopio This gives a bird’s-eye view of a landscape where in summer one day merges into another and time appears to stand still which has the world’s largest Christian wooden church You can also combine the cruise with a bike ride – the Kerma canal to Savonlinna route is popular Many boats carry bikes for an extra €10 or so Finland’s right to roam gives you the freedom to enjoy most outdoor pursuits regardless of who owns the land as long as you stay a reasonable distance from people’s houses Back in the boat all was calm, even when we were navigating the rapids that threatened to engulf the fishers, up to their thighs in water, and kayakers, who like ducklings followed their leader into locks. Even sturdy tugs pulling kilometre-long islands of timber behind them seemed to be reduced to a standstill by the current. returning to the relative hustle and bustle of Savonlinna felt almost overwhelming A soprano was performing the daily afternoon recital in front of the harbourfront restaurants – a call back to a more scheduled life I had time for a dip from one of the many sandy beaches into Saimaa’s clear dark waters which like many in Finland comes with an en suite sauna before it was time for another immersion: a cultural plunge with a different thrill into our next opera The Savonlinna opera festival runs from 1 to 30 July. From Helsinki you can take the train to Savonlinna, changing at Parikkala. For more details see visitfinland.com Savonlinna has been the home port of the pilot boat and inspection vessel SS Saimaa The Saimaa’s job was to inspect and map out sailing routes on her namesake lake presidents and prime ministers in its time the Saimaa is an integral part of Savonlinna’s unique museum steamship fleet spends her summers docked behind Riihisaari Museum The pilot boat and inspection vessel Saimaa sailed out of the Crichton & Co shipyard in Turku in 1893 and settled in her namesake lake that same year What inspections was it carrying out on Lake Saimaa over 130 years ago the construction of the Saimaa Canal had finished a megaproject costing millions of silver roubles and employing as many as 3000 men at a time The canal brought more maritime traffic to Lake Saimaa which led to a greater emphasis on ship safety it was the dimensions of the Saimaa Canal’s locks (length 35.6 m draft 2.67 m) that defined the maximum size of vessels on Lake Saimaa not every city along the lake’s shores was reachable by every ship that could fit through the canal Thus began an effort to make Lake Saimaa more navigable they used rental boats or even regular ship traffic to inspect the navigability of routes until finally pilot major Gustaf Adolf Majander started demanding a brand new ship for the task the Finnish Senate relented and granted funds for the construction of the SS Saimaa which was finished on schedule in May 1893 The SS Saimaa’s homeport was Lappeenranta for the duration of Russian rule a logical location given its central position The Saimaa kept working as an inspection vessel until the 1980s maintaining and inspecting navigable routes on the lake Another important mission was the inspection and refuelling of the sector lights Sector lights are night-time navigational aids much smaller than the proper lighthouses used out at sea They used various types of fuel over the decades that the Saimaa’s crew dutifully hauled over: gasoline The general public was more familiar with the Saimaa’s so-called “nob jobs” In July 1894 – only her second summer in service – the Saimaa and eight other ships formed an escort squadron for Emperor of Russia Alexander III in the Gulf of Finland but she did host his 15-year-old son Grand Duke Michael and his entourage for some time the Saimaa carried the imperial entourage’s used laundry to Turku for washing This was only the beginning of the Saimaa’s career in carrying VIPs Governor-General of Finland Nikolay Bobrikov took her on an inspection tour of eastern Finland in the summer of 1901 nearly every Finnish president has been aboard the Saimaa King Gustaf V of Sweden took a cruise from Savonlinna to Punkaharju with Finnish president Relander in the summer of 1925 Carl XVI Gustaf and his queen Silvia visited the ship in July 1989 Finnish prime minister Paavo Lipponen toured the lakes with many of his colleagues in the summer of 2001 first with a summit of all Nordic prime ministers and three weeks later with Russian prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov Presidents Sauli Niinistö and Vladimir Putin took the Saimaa on a brief excursion around Savonlinna in July 2017 Their cruise came to a stop at Olavinlinna Castle where the passengers disembarked for dinner and an opera show Security was hiked up to unprecedented levels for Putin’s visit with multiple police boats keeping waterborne rubberneckers away from the presidents There have also been some dramatic turns in the Saimaa’s history She served in the Gulf of Finland in the Continuation War and was attacked by Soviet planes on a few occasions shattering it and taking out the ship’s electricity and electronics The Saimaa’s long career as an inspection vessel had come to an end by the 1980s she’s been used for publicity purposes and found work as a museum ship The Saimaa is now owned by the Finnish government (through the Finnish Heritage Agency) People have always taken good care of the Saimaa The grand old steamer remains functional and goes on cruises every summer her engine fired with good old-fashioned Finnish birch logs Current plans are to make this notable museum ship even more prominent in the public eye and she is on display at the dock behind the Riihisaari Museum an integral part of the city’s unique museum steamship fleet officials of Haidian District held an online meeting with their counterparts from Savonlinna of Finland exchanged views on enhancing friendly cooperation Li Junjie said that Haidian District has stayed committed to innovation-driven development sped up the development of Haidian as the core area of an international center for science and technology innovation and achieved significant results in high-quality development The complementarity of resources promises great potential for cooperation between the two regions It is hoped that the two sides will further expand all-round and multi-level exchanges to build a closer and more pragmatic partnership and work together to set an example for sister-city exchanges and cooperation Janne Laine gave an introduction to the latest advancements in Savonlinna’s industries He expressed admiration for the achievements that Haidian District has made in the fields of economy He pointed out that Savonlinna and Haidian District have forged a strong friendship over the years and carried out fruitful cooperation in education He hoped that the two sides can further deepen friendship and expand cooperation thus achieving win-win results in economic and social development Haidian District will continue to strengthen its relationship with Savonlinna by increasing personnel exchanges and improving the efficiency and quality of practical cooperation in various fields Savonlinna is a major tourism city of the Saimaa Lake region in eastern Finland Haidian District and Savonlinna signed a letter of intent to promote friendly understanding and cooperation the two sides signed an agreement to establish sister-city relations Technical Support: Information Center of Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing Municipal Government Olavinlinna Castle near Finland’s eastern border is the northernmost surviving medieval castle in the world It is an irreplaceable cultural asset and a unique opera venue the castle will be in the spotlight at the Savonlinna Opera Festival: the programme for Olavinlinna’s 550th anniversary year will see the return of favourite productions from past decades including The Last Temptations and Boris Godunov Star bass Mika Kares will sing the leading roles in both of them the festival will open with a gala concert of Finnish music at Olavinlinna The programme includes the chronicle Linna vedessä (The Castle in the Water) composed for Olavinlinna by Aulis Sallinen Olavinlinna has influenced both of them in their composing careers a new era of modern opera began at the castle with the premiere of Sallinen’s opera The Horseman Auvinen’s close relationship with the Opera Festival began when he was a schoolboy in the 1980s the circle will be completed: the concert will celebrate Olavinlinna the future of Finnish music and Aulis Sallinen’s 90th birthday A new production for the anniversary summer is The Last Temptations a collaboration between the Savonlinna Opera Festival and Tampere Opera this new interpretation brings the Finnish classic back to Olavinlinna – it was last performed here in 1980 The lead role is sung by Mika Kares and other performers include Silja Aalto The performances are conducted by Ville Matvejeff an opera about an autocrat’s thirst for power in Russia is also performed by a largely Finnish cast Following in the footsteps of Martti Talvela and Matti Salminen The performances are conducted by Dima Slobodeniouk Verdi’s Macbeth is seen in the vibrant production by Ralf Långbacka This was one of the international successes of the 1990s and has been performed by the Opera Festival on tours around the world It stars world-renowned baritone Ludovic Tézier who impressed audiences in Tosca at the Opera Festival in 2022 Lady Macbeth is performed by top soprano Saioa Hernández and the conductor is Lorenzo Passerini Lagha wowed audiences with his performance of the aria Nessun dorma in 2018 and is back to do the same again In the Opera Festival’s acclaimed production director Pet Halmen has brought the composer the master composer becomes delirious and mingles his own life with the story of the opera This Turandot is thus seen through the eyes of Puccini Audiences in the world’s concert halls are hungry for baroque music Guest artists in the summer of 2025 will bring with them the oldest music ever performed at the Opera Festival from the late 17th century – by which time Olavinlinna Castle had already been standing for more than 200 years Festival Perelada from the Catalan countryside will present Henry Purcell’s colourful opera The Fairy Queen based on Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream the Helsinki Baroque Orchestra will perform the rare Il diluvio universale (The Universal Flood) a work by the rediscovered composer and Catholic priest Michelangelo Falvetti which radiates the primordial power of Sicily predicted climate change four whole centuries ago Tickets for the summer 2025 Opera Festival at the 550-year-old Olavinlinna Castle go on sale on 26 June 2024. A 10% advance booking discount is valid until 30 September. Tickets are already on sale for Opera Festival members. The programme of events can be found at operafestival.fi Further information:    Ville Matvejeff, Artistic Director  [email protected]    Interview requests and media contact:  Sonja Eiramo, Head of Marketing Communications  [email protected]  +358-40-508 8828  The anniversary year of Olavinlinna will last throughout the entire next year will celebrate its 550th anniversary in 2025 with a series of events and activities throughout the year has announced plans for an extensive program and invites everyone to participate in the celebrations The National Museum of Finland is spearheading the anniversary preparations and encourages local residents “Olavinlinna is at the heart of Finnish cultural heritage We want to involve everyone in making this anniversary special,” said Hanna Forssell Head of Public Relations at the National Museum of Finland The anniversary program will expand throughout the year with opportunities for anyone to become an official event organizer by applying through Olavinlinna’s website Events will not be confined to the castle alone but will also take place across various locations in the city Event organizers will have access to the official Olavinlinna 550 anniversary logo to promote their activities Olavinlinna was founded in 1475 by Erik Axelsson Tott a Danish-born knight and commander of Vyborg as a military fortress to fend off Russian attacks from the east and to secure control of the Savonia region for Sweden The fortress's military significance diminished in the 19th century Olavinlinna has been a nationally significant tourist destination Tourism began in earnest in 1865 when a guard was hired to ensure visitors’ safety and enjoyment Early visitors were ferried to the castle by boat over 1,200 visitors experienced the castle transforming the second floor of the Thick Bastion into a ballroom The benches in the hall still bear the carvings of couples who attended dances there opera singer Aino Ackté initiated the renowned Savonlinna Opera Festival at Olavinlinna with exceptions during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 Olavinlinna remains one of Finland’s most popular attractions drawing approximately 130,000 visitors annually About 80% of these visitors are domestic tourists Olavinlinna was voted Finland’s most fascinating castle by Museum Card users The National Museum of Finland is responsible for the castle’s operations and is looking forward to a memorable year of celebration in 2025 © Helsinki Times All rights reserved.  Terms of Use | Privacy Policy "Savonlinna Airport is one of Finavia’s airports in Eastern Finland there is always a sense of community and a desire to serve passengers and airlines It’s great that the airport is already 50 years old and that we can celebrate this anniversary at the airport together with our employees and stakeholders," says Mauri Vihavainen Savonlinna Airport is located about 15 kilometres from the city centre of Savonlinna The construction of Savonlinna Airport started to be considered as early as the 1940s but the Government did not grant the actual building permit to the City of Savonlinna and the municipality of Sääminki until 1970 The construction of the airport had not been fully completed when regular service to Savonlinna began in November 1973 The first aircraft to arrive at the airport was a 52-seat Convair Metropolitan propeller aircraft The airport was officially inaugurated in June 1974 and became part of Finavia’s airport network in 1980 Savonlinna Airport terminal and main entrance in 2007 The airport’s revamped passenger terminal was inaugurated in spring 1995 the terminal facilities were upgraded by separating the areas for departures and arrivals and streamlining baggage handling Finavia invested EUR 3 million in paving the airport runway and taxiway and renovating the apron which serves as a parking area for aircraft the runway lighting system was replaced with an energy-efficient LED lighting system Savonlinna Airport has served the guests and audience of the Savonlinna Opera Festival several holiday flights depart from the airport to the warmth of the south making it possible for people in the region to go on holiday from their own local airport there are usually chartered flights to Savonlinna from the Netherlands and Germany there will be charter flights to the airport from Rotterdam between June and September and from Frankfurt between August and September Almost all Finavia employees at Savonlinna Airport are all-rounders This means that every employee is involved in a wide range of work tasks both in the terminal and in the outdoor areas of the airport as maintaining and developing the airport infrastructure requires very specialist expertise and understanding One of Finavia’s all-rounders is Lauri Lemettinen who started working at the airport in 2008 He first started working at Finavia as a trainee when he was studying for a further vocational qualification in Airport Services he began working as a maintenance all-rounder after which his career at Finavia continued in the roles of shift manager and manager "The best thing about Savonlinna Airport is definitely the work community and the wide variety of tasks We are a group who can handle things like security control you end up becoming an all-rounder with a wide range of tasks this also requires employees to be able to learn new things and be prepared to respond to new and changing situations," Lauri says also agrees with the praise for the good and close work community and the wide variety of tasks Having previously worked in the automotive industry Pasi started working in maintenance at Savonlinna Airport His competence and in-depth understanding of the airport’s operations have developed over the years and today Pasi works as a shift supervisor "The most important thing is to carefully maintain the airport so that it serves smooth and safe air traffic We listen to the personnel's development ideas so that we can develop our ways of working and operations in a financially responsible way," Pasi says Learn more about the history of Finavia and its airports here Main image: Savonlinna Airport photographed from the air in 1980 Photo: william87/ iStock editorial/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images Finnair planes flying close to the Russian border near and south of Finland are reporting unusual activity with their GPS receivers in the last few days No cause for the abnormalities has been determined but the vicinity to the Russian border during the Ukraine war seems to indicate intentional interference interference occurs near the Russian province of Kaliningrad situated between Lithuania and Poland An aircraft operated by Lithuanian carrier Transaviabaltika has been unable to fly from Tallinn to Savonlinna for three days Traficom, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, has received numerous occurrence reports regarding GPS signal interference observed by aircraft The interference began during the weekend and is still continuing several aircraft reported GPS signal interference in the region around Mikkeli Kaliningrad is the capital of the Russian province of the same name sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania along the Baltic Coast After receiving reports about GPS interference Traficom on Monday requested Fintraffic Air Navigation Services Ltd (Fintraffic ANS) to issue a Notice to Airmen for pilots flying in the area Airlines have procedures they follow if the GPS signal is lost,” said Director Jari Pöntinen “Aircraft can use other systems to navigate and land safely Air traffic control supports aircraft pilots with the help of other landing systems.” For final approach traditional approach systems do not require a GPS signal Airlines make their own decisions on whether they can operate in an area where there is known to be interference to the GPS signal Traficom does not know what is causing the interference but stated it will continue to monitor the situation and gather more information on the matter subscribe to GPS World to receive more articles just like it Pressure vessels are enclosed containers that hold liquids and gases at a pressure significantly higher or lower than the ambient pressure Their size varies from whether they are use within a residential environment or in an industrial environment Andritz Savonlinna Works Oy, a supplier of equipment, machinery and services for the pulp and paper industry headquartered in Finland,  and the Finnish Additive Manufacturing  Ecosystem (FAME) The project has been conducted for research purpose The team claims that it is the largest 3D printed pressure vessel in Europe The 300 kg vessel has a diameter of 900 mm and a height of 1600 mm It is made up of stainless steel (316L) with Andritz Savonlinna Works Oy’s additive manufacturing system whose operating principle is directed energy deposition “FAME has 3D printed many kinds of projects with its members and this time we ended up building and testing a pressure vessel because the combination of high-quality requirements of pressure equipment and a metal part additively manufactured in this size represent well those hidden possibilities that are not typically seen,” says Ecosystem Lead Markus Korpela from DIMECC Ltd “It has been great to see how the significant research and development work of ANDRITZ Savonlinna Works Oy for their DED-Arc process and above all its results have also activated other companies to realize its possibilities and take actions towards larger scale metal additive manufacturing,” Korpela adds a third party performed a non-destructive material test (NDT) on the pressure vessel with liquid penetrant testing and later it will be subjected to a pressure test itself “We will get information about the final properties of the pressure vessel and how it compares to the standards from the non- and destructive tests performed we can find out how to implement similar products for commercial production this has already been truly amazing project to carry out and it has given valuable experience on 3D printing in this size range Elomatic Oy and LUT University deserve acknowledgements in this project since we have been getting support in design and testing phase from them,” says Santeri Varis Additive Manufacturing Manager from ANDRITZ Savonlinna Works Oy 3D ADEPT Media is a trade press that tracks and analyses the latest trends in the additive manufacturing industry and timely additive manufacturing resources we pride ourselves on delivering up-to-date information you can rely on through our online media and our print & interactive digital magazine 3D ADEPT Mag We love to think that this industry delivers “glocalized” manufacturing solutions to industries (in a nutshell, solutions that are both global and local). 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Explore the tiny biodegradable pacemaker for newbornsResearchers have created a pacemaker smaller than a grain of rice that does not require open surgery to implant. Why you might be younger than you think you areThere is a difference between our chronological and biological age, which we have the power to control. Report on the Savonlinna Opera Festival, an event organised and put on by choirs of volunteers that love singing and which attracts spectators from all over the world. Interviews with choir chief Kyosti Haatanen, director of communication Erkk Toüvanen, and excerpts of the Paillasse opera interpreted by Elisabeth Meyer-Topsoe and Sirkia Raimo. Created in 1912 at the moment of the Finnish national identity's affirmation, the Opera of Savonlinna festival, which took place in the Romantic decor of the mediaeval Olavinlinna Castle (Olaf's Castle), was made to celebrate Finnish musical creation. Just one foreign opera, the Faust of Frenchman Charles Gounod, would find its place in the programme made by Aino Ackté, soprano and first director of the Festival from 1912 to 1917. eastern FinlandLocals say they have no clue as to how the pillar ended up on a hill overlooking the town’s iconic Olavinlinna Castle Open image viewerThe monolith was first noticed on Thursday on a rocky hillside above the city's iconic 15th-century Olavinlinna Castle Image: Kati Rantala / YleYle News10.12.2020 20:25As home to an opera festival the southeastern Finnish town of Savonlinna is no stranger to melodrama locals seemed taken aback when a mysterious metal monolith suddenly appeared on a rocky hillside above Lake Saimaa on Thursday Similar gleaming columns have appeared and disappeared since November 13 in the US states of Utah The latest monolith was first noticed on Thursday morning at a former campsite near a sports field in Savonlinna’s Kyrönniemi neighbourhood it remained unclear whether the structure was placed there as part of a coordinated effort involving similar columns seen in other countries – all of which have disappeared as suddenly as they appeared insisted that she was as baffled as anyone about the object "I don’t know any more about it than anyone else does It’s wonderful that they have found their way to Kyrönniemi," Komi told Yle Komi said she had received many calls about the item after an article appeared in the local newspaper She declined to speculate as to whether it might be a copycat replica created by locals Among those who came to take a look at the object on Thursday afternoon was Sanna Malinen an art teacher who heard about it from one of her pupils I should come and take a look when an amazing work like this appears right nearby This is quite mystical," Malinen said She estimated that the column is about 2.5 metres high Malinen said she would rather not worry about who might be behind the work but would rather just consider the object and others around the world as a pleasing phenomenon whether any of its members might have been behind the object’s appearance Snails are a protein-packed, and cheap, alternative to red meat No one does ‘lykke’ quite like the Danes, says Rachel Hosie Earth Hour has become a ‘catalyst for positive environmental impact’, organisers state With over 180,000 lakes to explore, Finland offers the perfect setting for a tranquil summer cruise under the midnight sun The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers When you purchase through links on our site Finland offers the perfect setting for a tranquil summer cruise under the midnight sun I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Looking over the mirror-still water from the cabin I reflected that while ocean cruises are big business and with river cruises becoming more popular too lake cruises remain a world apart – capturing a particular tranquillity that you don’t get on the open sea or on waterways capital of a country with 188,000 lakes and a proud tradition of shipbuilding a hotel converted from a shipping office near the seafront we headed inland on a four-hour train journey north-east to Savonlinna which sits on a narrow isthmus in the sprawling lake Saimaa and the sound of a soprano trailed across the water from a harbour-front restaurant hosting an afternoon recital so from a sandy beach I plunged into the dark whisky-coloured waters in front of Olavinlinna castle where the festival’s main performances are held then emerged for a warming sauna overlooking the harbour The next morning our boat was waiting – one of several wooden craft that sail from mid-June to mid-August (summer days are long but transient here) – to Kuopio and back when Finland was still a grand duchy of the Tsarist empire – only next year does Finland celebrate the centenary of its independence the country was part of the Swedish empire for nearly a millennium and the 15th-century Olavinlinna castle was one of its eastern defences As the drawbridge opened to let the Puijo through It was time for coffee and pastries inside We gazed out of the ship’s large windows over the ever-changing landscape Although Saimaa is Europe’s fourth largest lake it is scattered with an archipelago of 14,000 islands so at times in this Moomin-esque landscape we were cruising through narrow while at others we could scarcely see the lake’s furthest shores Puijo was navigated – Swallows and Amazons-style – with leading marks showing the captain where to go as we approached a narrow passage clearly visible against the green forest walls by villages of wooden houses painted in traditional colours of red and white that most of our fellow passengers came and went at the nine ports of call but even in peak season there were rarely more than 30 of us on board As Europe’s least densely populated country three-quarters of Finland is covered by the forest that dominated the scenery around us wolves and the occasional human berry-picker we scanned the horizon for fellow pescatarians – seals Finland is home to one of the world’s three remaining colonies of fresh-water seals Even as late as 12,000 years ago an ice sheet more than two kilometres thick covered the country Not only did the retreating ice leave the seals stranded inland fissured landscape that we were travelling through we would raise our eyes from our novels to point out the odd lonely village children paddling at the beach of their mökki – the lakeside cottage that almost every Finn escapes to over summer weekends – or an interesting rock formation but the Puijo’s four cabins are on the small side so we opted for a hotel with en-suite sauna instead It never gets properly dark at this latitude in summer with just a few hours of “dusk-dawn” – as it is known in Finland – around midnight in a landscape where one day merges into another From its landmark revolving restaurant tower diners can watch as the sun scarcely dips below the horizon before rising again with the option of breaking the journey at Savonlinna by visiting nearby attractions such as Punkaharju a beautiful spit of land that is home to Lusto a surprisingly engaging forestry museum; or Kerimäki we boarded the Puijo again the next morning and let ourselves be carried by the water At times the boat travelled sideways like a rally car as it fought strong currents and from the locks that link this maze of lakes we gazed at rapids that threatened to engulf fishermen doughty tugs pulling long islands of timber seemed to be reduced to a standstill the drawbridge that would later take us to a performance of Boris Godunov opened for us once again brooding opera that befitted the backdrop of a castle and with its Russian history reminded us of the tumultuous background of a now serene and tranquil region Sailings on the MS Puijo (00 358 44 766 2460; mspuijo.fi) from Savonlinna to Kuopio or back run from 20 June to 13 August and cost from €95pp one-way or €150 return not including food or drink It costs an additional €30 to stay overnight The boat leaves Savonlinna at 9am on Monday Hotel Seurahuone and Tott in Savonlinna and Puijonsarvi in Kuopio (00 358 20 1234 600; sokoshotels.fi) The Savonlinna festival (operafestival.fi) runs from 8 July to 6 August visitfinland.com Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Open image viewerThe monolith had been located on a former campsite near Kyrönniemi sports field. Image: Kati Rantala / YleYle News21.12.2020 14:13The mysterious metal monolith which suddenly appeared in the southeastern Finnish town of Savonlinna earlier this month has just as suddenly disappeared Local daily Itä-Savo reported on Sunday that the column which had stood for about 10 days at a former campsite near a sports field in Savonlinna’s Kyrönniemi neighbourhood Open image viewerThe structure was discovered on 10 December Image: Kati Rantala / YleThere is still no information about the creator or installer of the monolith or whether it was placed in Kyrönniemi as part of a coordinated effort involving similar columns seen in other countries – all of which have disappeared within a matter of days of being discovered Similar gleaming structures have appeared and disappeared since November 13 in the US states of Utah The Hungarian airline BASe Airlines will operate scheduled flights between Helsinki Airport and Savonlinna Airport from 13 November 2023, Traficom announces in its press release The flights will continue until the end of 2025 The current contract with the Estonian airline NyxAir expires on 5 October 2023 In August 2023 Traficom announced that BASe Airlines had won the public tender for the provision of scheduled flights between Helsinki and Savonlinna Seven return flights per week during the winter season and six return flights per week during the summer season were put out to tender There will be a break in flights for about three weeks in August in 2024 and 2025 The City of Savonlinna and the Finnish state are responsible for the procurement costs The flights can be booked from Norppa Aero's website Sources: Press release by Traficom on 3 October 2023, Press release by Traficom on 18 August 2023. The 2018 programme features work from Tchaikovsky Image: PoliisiPamela Kaskinen5.7.2018 19:28There are few places on Earth where one can listen to an open-air performance of the most famous works in the classical music canon in a medieval castle courtyard but each summer the small town of Savonlinna in eastern Finland provides thousands of music lovers from Finland and farther afield with that opportunity the Savonlinna Opera Festival features a new production of The Queen of Spades along with some old favorites like Madame Butterfly The story of how the festival began dates back more than a century It all started in 1907 when Finnish star soprano Aino Ackté made her first visit to the Olavinlinna Castle built back in 1475 at a narrow strait in the Saimaa lake district by the Swedes to fend off Russian encroachment She immediately recognised that the imposing stone edifice would be the perfect setting for opera performances she successfully arranged several years of productions showcasing domestic works with Ackté herself singing the role of Marguerite in the festival’s first international production a series of domestic and international conflicts caused the festival to close down for more than 40 years the Savonlinna Opera Festival made a long-awaited comeback with a showing of Beethoven’s Fidelio to a packed audience Then-President of Finland Urho Kekkonen attended the televised performance Under the direction of the world-famous Finnish bass singer Martti Talvela the festival soon grew from a one-week performance series into a month-long cultural event Talvela threw himself into promotion of the event with the same zeal Ackté had shown catapulting the festival to international acclaim and prestige Opera lovers far and wide praised the castle’s picturesque setting and excellent acoustics while the performances were recognised for their exceptional quality and professional execution Some 60,000 people travel to see a performance at the Savonlinna Opera Festival each year and the most coveted productions are quickly sold out each season In recent years up to one-quarter of the ticket holders have hailed from outside of Finland’s borders Because the castle is the northernmost stone fortress in Europe still standing daylight continues well after the performances are done allowing visitors to explore the Savonlinna town and shorelines from early in the morning until well past midnight the Savonlinna Opera Festival will feature a new production of Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s classic opera the opera tells the tragic story of an ill-fated gambler and his muse The opera was the personal favourite of the Russian composer and he considered the 1890 premiere in St Petersburg a resounding success The 2018 performances mark the first time the opera will be shown in Savonlinna The programmeOpens an external website for this summer’s Savonlinna Opera Festival features repeat performances of the festival’s most popular productions from over the years: Gounod’s Faust Verdi’s Otello and Puccini’s Madame Butterfly the Italian opera company Puccini Festival Torre del Lago will finish out the last week with productions of Turandot and Tosca some of Savonlinna Opera Festival company will travel to Russia to perform this summer’s production of Otello at the illustrious Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow This summer’s castle performance schedule includes two concerts from unlikely additions operatic arias will make way for Finnish extreme metal heavyweights Children of Bodom and the thrash metal group Lost Society the Finnish symphonic heavy metal band Apocalyptica will arrive at the castle to revisit its world-renowned set of Metallica songs on four cellos an interpretation that propelled the group to fame over 20 years ago The suspension of the state’s purchased traffic on 16 December 2022 ended purchased traffic at Savonlinna Airport until a new agreement on purchased services enters into effect The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom expects that flights will resume on 1 April 2023 at the earliest The change negotiations concerned Finavia’s permanent personnel and employees working as substitutes for permanent personnel totalling nine employees at Savonlinna Airport the personnel of Savonlinna Airport – with the exception of the shop steward and the airport manager – will be temporarily laid off until further notice the duration of the temporary layoffs will not exceed 90 working days The airline Transaviabaltika has decided to discontinue flights between Savonlinna Airport and Helsinki Airport effective from 16 December 2022 The flights have been operated with state aid A tendering process will be initiated by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom and the City of Savonlinna Finavia does not receive state aid for purchased traffic the state aid is paid to the airline that operates the flights “We have been co-operating closely with the relevant parties and decided that the renovation work should begin in the early summer This will minimise the inconvenience to passengers The renovated airport will reopen just in time for the Savonlinna Opera Festival,” says Mari Nurminen Central and Eastern Finland Airports at Finavia renovate the apron and replace the runway lighting system The renovation will help maintain the conditions for flight operations the new runway lighting system will improve the airport’s energy efficiency and reduce emissions The replacement of runway lighting systems is part of Finavia’s climate programme Using LED lights to replace our runway lighting system enables us to improve the airport’s energy efficiency and reduce emissions Savonlinna Airport will be closed from 2 May to 24 June 2022 there will be no passenger traffic at the airport and it will be not be available for use by recreational aviators Savonlinna Airport departures and arrivals Finavia develops its airports ‒ The renovation of Savonlinna Airport has proceeded as planned and will be completed after Midsummer We can open the runway to air traffic just before the Savonlinna Opera Festival to be arranged in July Finavia began the runway improvement work on 2 May the first flight will land on the renewed Savonlinna runway on 26 June the runway and taxiway surfaces were replaced as well as part of the apron that serves as a parking area for aircraft the runway lighting system was replaced with energy-efficient LED technology which reduces emissions caused by airport operations Savonlinna Airport – like the other Finavia airports – has been carbon neutral since 2019 Finavia’s investment has a value of about EUR 3 million the Savonlinna runway will provide air traffic with a good service level for many years to come ‒ We welcome airlines and passengers to Savonlinna Airport Russian President Vladimir Putin’s working visit to Finland hosted by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö on 27 July 2017 was compact but packed with events The visit commemorating Finland’s 100 years of independence began in Punkaharju where President Niinistö welcomed President Putin outside Hotelli Punkaharju The discussions taking place on the rocking chair veranda included bilateral relations Finland’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council and the crisis in Ukraine In the press conference following the discussions President Niinistö drew attention to increased military movements in the Baltic Sea area and to the two military exercises “In order to avoid something which nobody wants to happen continuous dialogue in essential,” said the President “I would hope that also people in Finland would realise that not everything has necessarily taken a turn for the worse I refer to the interview with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg in which he said that the previous NATO-Russia Council meeting was constructive.” “Another factor showing that dialogue is necessary is the fact that ICAO the other Baltic Sea countries and NATO are members has managed to agree on good practices in aviation and will continue to work on this transponder matter in a good atmosphere.” Finland’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council that began in May was also among the topics of discussion “I received plenty of understanding from President Putin for an idea that Finland would make an offer that was hard to refuse This would concern the prevention of black carbon This has two elements: outdated energy installations and flaring.” Another environmental issue that was discussed was the Krasny Bor toxic waste landfill situated near St “This is something we discussed already last year Samples have been taken and hopefully we can move on to concrete action.” “We appreciate the fact that President Putin arrived to commemorate our centenary We are also celebrating 25 years of Finnish-Russian relations,” said President Niinistö President Putin thanked for the invitation to celebrate Finnish independence “Therefore we have an extensive programme concerning joint cultural events,” said President Putin Finland’s centenary is celebrated actively especially in St President Putin said that trade between the countries is increasing and that investment cooperation is developing “It is our common objective that we can keep this going Our countries’ interest in business life is mutual and at a high level.” When asked about foreign relations at the press conference President Niinistö answered that Finland is creating relations equally with its neighbours as with the European Union and the United States “It is not a question about a balancing act; instead I think that is the way it should be also globally: to have a better understanding of each other,” said the President I fully agree with what was stated at the NATO Summit in Warsaw – participated by all NATO countries – that dialogue was extremely necessary I have also note that both Chancellor Merkel and President Macron have engaged in dialogue The presidents went on a steam ship cruise on Lake Saimaa aboard S/S Saimaa Photo: Matti Porre/Office of the President of the Republic of Finland the presidents went on a steam ship cruise on Lake Saimaa aboard S/S Saimaa to Olavinlinna Castle engaging in discussion all the time on the afterdeck the presidents had dinner hosted by the City of Savonlinna and enjoyed Pyotr Tchaikovsky Iolanta opera at the Savonlinna Opera Festival the presidents talked within a small company for almost two hours more They discussed in depth some key topics of global politics and their backgrounds The last time presidents Niinistö and Putin met was in March 2017 at the Arctic Conference in Arkhangelsk President Putin’s latest visit to Finland was in July 2016 when the presidents met at Kultaranta © Office of the President of the Republic of Finland 2025 the steam tugboat Ahkera (”Hard-working; industrious”) is the oldest museum-owned steam tugboat on Lake Saimaa and reportedly in all of Finland The Ahkera shares some of that history with another venerable vessel docked behind Riihisaari: when the Salama sank in 1898 the Ahkera was there to take on her passengers The Ahkera was used to tow floating lumber from the upper Saimaa down to Imatra The boat changed hands multiple times before being purchased by forestry company Enso-Gutzeit in 1902 They put the Ahkera to work towing timber rafts from Kuopio and Joensuu to the Rutola portage The Ahkera kept working for Gutzeit until 1958 a relationship commemorated by the white star on the boat’s funnel In the early 1970s the boat was brought into drydock and renovated as a museum vessel at Savonlinna’s Laitaatsilta shipyard In 2002 Enso-Gutzeit’s successor company Stora Enso donated the Ahkera to the city of Savonlinna In June 2004 the Ahkera docked at Riihisaari becoming part of Finland’s largest fleet of museum steamers The history of the Ahkera is intertwined with that of steam schooner Salama as the tugboat was on the scene to take on many of the schooner’s passengers when she sunk in September 1898 Please accept all cookies to see this content or watch content here. ownership of the steam tugboat Ahkera passed to a local private association The association has been working to renovate the Ahkera as a functional vessel while preserving its traditional nature and museality a process that is currently in its final stages The Ahkera was docked at Riihisaari for the summer of 2022 Please accept all cookies to see this content or watch content here. Please accept all cookies to see this content or watch content here. JUser: :_load: Unable to load user with ID: 42 Olavinlinna Castle hosts the country’s premier opera festival yet again a passionate and dedicated Finnish soprano thought of creating and directing one of the first opera festivals existing in Europe She believed the majestic Olavinlinna Castle would make a mighty setting for showcasing Finnish opera culture during the first five seasons of the opera festival almost all the Finnish operas so far composed were staged in Olavinlinna Castle in which the part of Marguerite was performed by Ackté It was precisely this part that gave Ackté her fame in the world so the inclusion of Faust in the repertoire was justified the festival invested heavily in the castle milieu famous for his Havis Amanda statue in Helsinki was commissioned to sculpt a statue of St Olaf Savonlinna Opera Festival prepares first-class Finnish and international performances The jubilee season 2012 is a mixture of new and traditional including three of the most legendary productions in the festival’s history: August Everding’s direction of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Magic Flute Ilkka Bäckman’s version of Richard Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman and András Mikó’s vision of Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida Two world premieres will represent the new: Kimmo Hakola’s La Fenice and the first ever opera born from an Internet crowd-sourced project: Free Will is the most international production in operatic history The guest opera house this season comes from Oslo The Norwegian Opera & Ballet is one of the most interesting opera companies in all Europe at the moment and Kverndokk’s The Fourth Watch of the Night (Den fjerde nattevakt) will provide the perfect ending to a season featuring a repertoire of richness and variety Opera lovers visiting or living in Finland will find the Savonlinna Opera Festival a unique experience The magic of the scenery surrounding the castle and the delightful view of the Olavinlinna Castle itself can only be compared to the beauty of the midnight sun in the Finnish summer SUSAN FOURTANÉHELSINKI TIMESPHOTOS: T IMO SEPPÄLÄINEN © Helsinki Times All rights reserved.  Terms of Use | Privacy Policy the opera company is celebrating a record-breaking season in Finland's eastern lake district Putin's visit to Finland is his tenth since he first became the leader in 2008 There are some concrete benefits that are anticipated from the talks: a fast train connection between Helsinki and St Petersburg is being planned as is a large-scale St Petersburg wastewater plant Finnish President Sauli Niinistö follows in the tradition of former President Tarja Halonen and seems to enjoy a frank but respectful relationship with Putin The statesmen will fly into Savonlinna today separately meet for talks at Hotel Punkaharju at 2 pm hold a joint press conference at and then proceed to Olavinlinna Castle in Savonlinna via the S/S Saimaa steamboat for dinner and an opera performance by the Bolshoi Theatre who says he has decorated the 125-year-old vessel with flags to celebrate Finland's 100-year centennial He says he also has plenty of champagne and non-alcoholic alternatives on hand for his distinguished guests The boat has hosted famous Russian passengers in the past including the son of Alexander the Third and General-Governor Bobrikov in addition to Swedish kings and many Finnish presidents In another article in the seriesOpens an external website HS asked a few experts what the two statesmen would likely be talking about a Russia-EU relations expert at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs "Trade and tourism are up and the presidents will want to discuss how to keep that good thing going Russia has the most functional and good relationship with Finland Bilateral relations are virtually problem-free: Finland is not protesting the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline and Rosatom and Fennovoima's nuclear plant project in Pyhäjoki is making progress" he says Second on the list will be security in the Baltic Sea region Markku Kangaspuro from the Helsinki University's Alexander Institute says "Increased Russian military exercises on the Baltic Sea and troop presence is negative and does little to instil confidence The presidents will probably discuss this and clarify what is and is not happening The remaining three topics the experts say will be discussed include Arctic cooperation environmental protection (specifically cleaning up the Baltic Sea) and border issues Aamulehti, a paper out of Tampere likewise asks Alexander Institute's Hanna Smith about the visitOpens an external website She says Finland must be prepared to do the groundwork to ensure that Finland's relationship with Russia stays an amicable one "Finland in particular has to work hard to make sure that the relationship doesn't deteriorate State visits are the most visible component of this diplomacy but it is still just a small piece in the puzzle "Several larger long-term objectives could have been in the works for a long time and the meetings give them a chance to evaluate their progress and see if they are past the finish line or if they are so far from their goal that there's no point in continuing," she tells AL She says the choice of eastern Savonlinna as the meeting venue may also reveal that border crossings will be high on the agenda "Border crossings are a topic of mutual interest that will naturally come up Things like how to make the process as flexible as possible and if a new international crossing point would be needed," says Smith The Kaleva newspaper from Oulu says the visit is expectedOpens an external website to run late into the night but preliminary data on the specifics of Putin's visit released earlier in the week indicated that Putin would not spend the night The paper says concrete barriers have been placed in the seaside areas and covered in flowers Hundreds of security personnel will be monitoring the area and police advise Savonlinna residents to take care of their business in the morning as parking will be limited after 2 pm and certain road connections between Savonlinna and Punkaharju will be closed once the statesmen arrive And lastly, Turun Sanomat, the paper out of southwest Turku, sings 'Here Comes the Sun'Opens an external website Maybe Putin engaged in some of Russia's famous cloud seeding to keep the rain away but TS rejoices in weather news that says that temperatures may exceed the magical 25-degree Celsius marker today in the south for the first time this summer it will be warm and partly sunny throughout the country with a chance of rain or thundershowers only in Lapland Avaa kuvien katseluAiemmin Mestiksessä pelannut SaPKo on lähtenyt konkurssin jälkeen uuteen nousuun Kuva: Kati Rantala / YleVilma Ruokoski1.3.2023 7:36Savonlinnan SaPKo on saanut vahvistuksen paluusta valtakunnalliselle sarjatasolle ensi kaudella Jääkiekkoliiton liittohallitus myönsi tiistaina SaPKon taustayhtiö Savonlinna Hockeylle sarjapaikan Suomi-sarjaan eli kolmanneksi korkeimmalle sarjatasolle Savonlinna Hockeyn oli toimitettava liittohallitukselle tammikuun kokouksen jälkeen lisäselvityksiä sarjapaikkahakemuksesta ja hakemus hyväksyttiin selvitysten jälkeen Mestiksessä pelannut SaPKo ajautui konkurssiin viime kesänä Uuden SaPKon taustalla on viisitoista savonlinnalaista yrittäjää Cruises on Lake Saimaa are part of pure Finnish summer experiences several departures will once again be available from Lappeenranta Harbour to conquer Lake Saimaa in southeastern Finland This summer’s offering includes old familiar favourites, meaning canal, archipelago and charter cruises, as well as trips to Puumala, Savonlinna, Ilkonsaari, and the Russian border. Cruises available from Lappeenranta have been compiled on the VisitLappeenranta website Cruise tips and guidance on experiences can also be obtained from the city’s Tourist Information office The cruise season of local tour operator Saimaa Travel is underway and will end on 21 August Service Manager Suvi Laine is expecting a busy summer “We have more than 20 different cruise products from Lappeenranta to Lake Saimaa for this summer Day cruises to Puumala usually take place three times a week and cruises to Savonlinna four times during the summer You can take a one-way trip to Savonlinna and stay at a hotel there or take a day cruise from Lappeenranta using a ship-bus or a bus-ship combination.” “There are cruises to the Saimaa Canal and the Russian border twice a week M/S Carelia cruises through all three locks of the Saimaa Canal on the Finnish side and all the way to the Russian border where the ship turns around and sails back down the canal to the passenger harbour of Lappeenranta.” Laine says that there are two types of hotel packages linked to cruises available through Saimaa Travel with Original Sokos Hotel Lappee and Hotel Rakuuna as partner hotels “The Puumala day cruise can be combined with a two-night hotel stay in Lappeenranta.” “As for the cruise along the Saimaa Canal to the Russian border it is possible to include one night in Lappeenranta The same package can also be accompanied by a guided Thursday tour of the Fortress which is also available for booking by those not on the cruise you can get it at a lower price with the cruise.” All Saimaa Travel’s cruise products and schedules can be found on the company’s website The products can be purchased from the company’s online shop Customers can also contact the company separately regarding any cruise package they desire that is not already included in the selection There is also flexibility in the transportation options “Lappeenranta is the home port of M/S Carelia so the departures of our ready-made packages are from Lappeenranta and all packages that include transportation start from and end in Lappeenranta we can also make arrangements for cruises departing from Savonlinna or Puumala Karelia Lines’ M/S Camilla offers canal archipelago and Pien-Saimaa cruise experiences You can witness the locks of the Saimaa Canal on a canal cruise and enjoy the magnificent archipelago scenery on a canal-archipelago dinner cruise Travelling through the landscapes of Suur-Saimaa and Pien-Saimaa is also possible aboard M/S Camilla. Additionally, Karelia Lines offers a variety of charter cruises, as well as a pirate adventure complete with a treasure hunt around the Saimaa Canal aimed especially at families with children. Karelia Lines’ cruises can be found on the company’s website M/S Saimaa Margareta of Saimaa Cruises provides cruises to the Saimaa Canal and in the archipelago in the summer as well. The company’s summer offering also includes Salpa Line themed cruises. More information about the services of Saimaa Cruises on the company’s website You can also enjoy Lake Saimaa by hopping aboard a floating sauna in Lappeenranta. The full-service floating sauna of Saimaan Palju is one of the largest in Finland. Information about the floating sauna, its services and booking can be found on the Saimaan Palju website (information only in Finnish) Overview of available cruises: https://www.visitlappeenranta.fi/en/Experience/Sights-and-history/Cruises