The fine, Finnish work of Osmo Tapio Räihälä

I've previously mentioned "Barlinnie Nine", an opera about Everton legend Duncan Ferguson. Considering our special attention to Finnish culture, I thought it'd be worth a second look. The composer, Osmo Tapio Räihälä, is a known Evertonian and although on first glance cultural purists might  wince at the thought of this being his most well-known work, I urge patience. Although I've not seen the opera - and am in no position to judge it on it's merits as a piece of art music - I completely support the subject matter being presented in this manner. It might not get football fans into opera halls, but it should illuminate the theatre, drama and legitimacy of both popular sport and Duncan Ferguson in particular.

From the program note:

Barlinnie Nine was started in 1998 and finished in late 1999. Räihälä took part in a composers' workshop with the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra in Norway and wrote this 13 minutes long composition for the occasion. After some misinformation by the organizers, the piece was not finished until only after the workshop's programme was chosen and thus the composition remained unperformed. The newly organized first performance was given by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra in April 2005, under the baton of conductor Sakari Oramo.

Barlinnie Nine is a tribute to the Everton striker Duncan Ferguson and Räihälä describes the work as "an apotheosis for under-achieving". Several promising motifs are started but never fulfilled. These include some direct quotations (the Z-Cars theme and Abide With Me) but also "supporter chants" that are written by Räihälä himself.

Notice the dates. As the "apotheosis for under-achieving" premiered Duncan scored the winner against Manchester United, 10 years since he'd done so previously, to which The Telegraph had screamed "That Dixie Melody". The composer muses:

It was like an alcoholic hitting the bottle again… there I was describing Duncan as a failure in Finland, and thousands of miles away at Everton he rises like a phoenix from the ashes to score against Manchester United.

As I said back then:

There can be no doubt that Duncan Ferguson is a unique giant of modern football – an anachronism that modernity can’t control – and a fitting protagonist for an operatic exploit.

Comments

[Andrew Mellor]

Sounds fascinating. I have just arrived at Helsinki railway station from Tampere, and enjoyed the journey in the company of Saraki Oramo's recording of Sibelius's Fourth Symphony with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Nakemiin!