Tuesday 6.4.27 at 19
House of Nobility

Lecturer: FT Tero Halonen
Music: n.n.

The House of Nobility spring season’s epoch event introduces Leo Mechelin, a significant statesman from the period of Finland’s Autonomy under the Russian rule during the 19th century. Mechelin was a constitutionalist and an advocate of rules-based law and order. During his time as Senate’s chairman, Mechelin led the process of defining Finland’s sovereingty as part of the Russian empire. During the period of Russian oppression, Mechelin assumed a leading role in protecting Finland’s constitutional rights, becoming a towering figure among the defenders of Finland’s cause.

Aside from his political activities Mechelin was a passionate connoisseur of the arts. A  Mechelin expert, historian and Doctor of Philosophy Tero Halonen sheds light to Mechelin’s activities as an opera librettist, focusing especially in the years 1839–1860, the early years of his activity. In 1858 Mechelin wrote the libretto to a musical play, Gustaf and Bertha, constructing its musical score from popular opera numbers from works such as Weber’s Freischütz and Rossin’s Barber of Seville. Sections from King Charle’s Hunt by Finnish composer Pacius were also included in Mechelin’s collage. Musical settings at the time were created by a pioneering song composer Karl Collan.

This epoch event opens the door into living rooms of Helsinki arts connoisseurs of the late 19th century, offering a chance to immerse in the vibrancy of the art that flourished there.

Tickets: 15-38 € + fees (from 1,50 €, www.lippu.fi)