The Etelä-Savo Opera and Music Theater Association (ESMO ry), founded in 2015, aims to enrich the cultural life of the Etelä-Savo region, offer jobs to culture professionals in their own home region and bring artists, who have started their career in Etelä-Savo to perform in the region. Opera and music theater are area’s that could bring cultural professionals and enthusiasts together to create something new. The board of the association consist of musicians with roots in Savonlinna. ESMO has been influenced by singers Mari Karjalainen, Heikki Kilpeläinen, Anu Ontronen and musicians Matti Makkonen, Mirva Helske and Jenna Ristilä among others.

The association has produced several children's operas during its years of operation (e.g. E. Humperdinck's Hannu and Kerttu, J. Pauer's Little Red Riding Hood and M. Makkonen's Uppo-Nalle). As its first major work, ESMO ry produced the world premiere of Ilkka Kuusiston's opera Aino Ackté in Savonlinna in 2017. The work was also performed at Aleksanteri theater and as a guest work at the Ilmajoki Music Festival in the summer of 2019. ESMO ry's last major opera production and major local collaboration project was Oskar, directed by Markku Pölönen and conducted by Erkki Lasonpalo. Merikanton's The Death of Elina opera, which was performed in Mikkeli and Savonlinna in the spring of 2023.

In addition to opera, ESMO ry produces concert tours and large church works in collaboration with e.g. with the Joroinen Music Festival. In 2024 ESMO ry founded the Etelä-Savo County Choir, which will work on a project basis in connection with performances of major works.

ESMO artists on the 3.8. Pre-opening concert are Laura Heinonen (soprano), Anu Ontronen (mezzosoprano), Samuli Takkula (baritone) and musicians Susanna Mieskonen-Makkonen, Matti Makkonen ja Mirva Helske.

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