Soprano Aphrodite Patoulidou and violinist Mari Samuelsen have been engaged as soloists for Oulu Sinfonia’s large-scale European Capital of Culture year production Beyond the Sky. Inspired by the life’s work of astronomical nature photographer and visual artist Jukka-Pekka Metsävainio, the work will receive its world première at Oulu Hall on Thursday 19 November, with a total of five performances taking place between 19 and 21 November 2026. The production forms part of the Lumo Light Festival.
Greek soprano Aphrodite Patoulidou first gained international recognition through the Equilibrium Young Artists programme. She is a regular guest with major orchestras and has performed numerous operatic roles, including appearances at the Berlin State Opera. Patoulidou is also a visual artist whose projects draw upon dark romanticism, combining visual elements with a musical dialogue between folk traditions and classical heritage. Mari Samuelsen, meanwhile, is a sought-after concert soloist whose emotionally charged style of playing unites immaculate technique with a drive to defy traditional expectations.
Beyond the Sky is composed by Lauri Porra, who has also created the textual dramaturgy, drawing upon the history of human thought — from Heraclitus, Lucretius, Seneca, the Kalevala, Darwin, Schopenhauer and Pascal. The texts are sung in their original languages, and the work therefore features Greek, Latin, Finnish, English, French and German. The texts have been selected and shaped into a whole that explores humanity’s relationship with eternity, as well as the essence of both the cosmos and humankind.
“Soprano Aphrodite Patoulidou carries the role of the human voice within the work — curious, searching and ultimately surrendering. Mari Samuelsen’s violin represents something greater: a cosmic presence that is always there, never answers directly, and whose existence we can only imagine. Beyond the Sky is a dialogue between humanity and eternity. It is a meditation on the cycle of existence. It does not seek answers, but instead dwells beside the question,” describes composer Lauri Porra.
Alongside the soloists and Oulu Sinfonia, the work also features a mixed choir prepared by Kristian Heberg. The performance will be conducted by one of the most internationally acclaimed Finnish conductors of our time, Dalia Stasevska.
The sound design for Beyond the Sky is by Ilkka Herkman, while set, lighting and video design are created by Joonas Tikkanen. The same designers were behind Leonard Bernstein’s MASS in Oulu this past April. Costume design is by artist professor Pasi Räbinä. Over a career spanning nearly forty years and more than one hundred productions, Räbinä’s stage costumes have been seen in opera, theatre and contemporary dance productions across numerous Finnish professional theatres. From 22 May to 27 September 2026, the Oulu Art Museum will host Räbinä’s curated international exhibition Tomorrow’s Wardrobe, which explores and paves the way for the future of fashion.
Oulu is the European Capital of Culture in 2026. Beyond the Sky is part of the Oulu2026 cultural programme and the cultural climate change initiative.
Text: Oulu Sinfonia
Photos:
Aphrodite Patoulidou, c Daniel Narschick
Mari Samuelsen, c A. Gjestvang
Beyond the Sky
Thu 19.11.2026 at 19.30 (World Premiere)
Fri 20.11.2026 at 13.00
Fri 20.11.2026 at 19.30
Sat 21.11.2026 at 16.30
Sat 21.11.2026 at 19.30
Oulu Hall
Astrophotoraphy and animations Jukka-Pekka Metsävainio
Music Lauri Porra
Set design, lighting and video designer Joonas Tikkanen
Sound designer Ilkka Herkman
Costume designer Pasi Räbinä
Choir Master Kristian Heberg
Dalia Stasevska conductor
Aphrodite Patoulidou soprano
Mari Samuelsen violin
Project Choir
Oulu Sinfonia
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Lauri Porra: Beyond the Sky (World Premiere)