An Evening on the Riviera with Olavi Paavolainen

Greta Tuotanto's production takes audiences on a journey through writer Olavi Paavolainen's years in France, blending poetry, music, dramatic scenes and cultural history. Anna Kortelainen serves as narrator, Joel Mäkinen plays Paavolainen and Reetta Ristimäki plays a fictional Russian emigrant who runs a boarding house.

The performance features Paavolainen's letters and poems, brought to life by French music. The programme spans early twentieth-century art music - Poulenc, Debussy, Fauré - alongside period names like Maurice Chevalier and Mistinguett. Joel Mäkinen also composes two new songs set to Paavolainen's poetry.

The story is rooted in fact: Paavolainen first travelled to Nice in April 1927 at age 23, a young dandy. The following year he returned to the Riviera just before military service and sent friends alternately boastful and candid letters.

Aino Acktén villa, Helsinki. 5.7.2026, 16.00-17.10. Tickets 35 € from the box office. The concert café opens one hour before the performance begins.