Special concert

MASS

4 concerts

17.04.–21.04.2026

Oulu Hall

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Performers

Ville Rusanen The Celebrant
Mari Palo soprano
Aki Saarela tenor
Joonas Orrain baritone
Vilho Pohjola Child Soloist

Acolytes (Dancers)
Hanna Appel
Liisa Heikkinen
Verna Tainio

Oamk Dance teacher students

Street Chorus
Mixed Choir
Music Classes of Teuvo Pakkala School

Rock Band
Blues Band
Lapland Military Band

Oulu Sinfonia

Authors
Music Leonard Bernstein
Text Leonard Bernstein, additional texts by Stephen Schwartz
Libretto translation Juhani Koivisto
Direction and choreography Petri Kauppinen
Conductor Rumon Gamba
Assistant Conductor Kasmir Uusitupa
Choir Master Elina Kärki
Choir Master, children’s choir Maria Viitasaari
Set design, lightning and video designer Joonas Tikkanen
Sound design Ilkka Herkman
Costume design Iida Ukkola
Repetiteur Outi Nissi

Concert program

Leonard Bernstein: MASS (Finnish Premiere)

Four nights. Hundreds of performers. One unforgettable experience. Leonard Bernstein’s MASS is a music theatre phenomenon of epic scale – a once-in-a-lifetime event, unlikely to be seen again this far north.

Best known for West Side Story, American composer Bernstein transforms the Catholic Mass into a dazzling Broadway-style spectacle. Instead of solemn sermons, MASS bursts with infectious rhythms, sweeping melodies, monumental choral scenes and soul-stirring arias in Latin, Hebrew and English. On stage – and all around it – a full symphony orchestra joins forces with choirs, vocal soloists, dancers, a rock band and even a military band.

Premiered in 1971 at the opening of the Kennedy Center in Washington, MASS now comes to Finland for the very first time – as a breathtaking fusion of light, music and movement, filling the vast Oulu Hall arena. The lead role is sung by baritone Ville Rusanen, with Oulu Sinfonia conducted by Chief Conductor Rumon Gamba.

In co-operation with:
JoJo – Oulu Dance Centre, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Lapland Military Band

***

Permission given by Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Limited

Languages: English, Latin and Hebrew. Subtitles in Finnish and English.

Oulu is the European Capital of Culture for the year 2026. MASS is part of the Oulu2026 cultural programme and cultural climate change.

***

Duration about 2 h 30 min (incl. intermission)

Tickets 47 € normal / 37 € pensioner / 27 € student, unemployed, child (3–17 yrs)
Free entry to the concert for Kaikukortti holders (limited amount, must be purchased in advance from Oulu10 service point).

Prices include service fee. Order fee 3 €/order when bought from Ticketmaster shops or 1,50 €/order when bought from Ticketmaster online shop will be added, excluding tickets purchased at Oulu Sinfonia ticket booth and Kaikukortti-tickets.

Concerts

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