Review: ”Suurenmoista!”

Comedy about the world’s worst soprano

THE SWEET SOUNDS OF THE CIRCULAR SAW SOUND


The Glory (????) of the Human Voice is one of the most famous vocal albums in history. The album features the voice of the remarkable vocalist Florence Foster Jenkins (1868 – 1944), who has the dubious honour of bearing the title of “the world’s worst soprano”.
Foster Jenkins was in his own opinion a gift to the world of singing, but to the musical ear of a person with normal hearing organs, his singing sounds like a cross between an old circular saw and an attitude-deficient miniature poodle.
Foster Jenkins considered himself equal to the greatest coloratura sopranos of the early 20th century, such as Nellie Melba and Amelita Galli-Curc , although in reality his singing was technically and musically closest to beginner level.


Return
Into the limelight


Florence Foster Jenkins is back in the limelight! Helsinki City Theatre has included in its repertoire the comedy Glorious! (Magnificent!), in which the life of a non-soprano is described in the light of a few scenes. The play culminates in Jenkins’ famous concert at the sold-out Carnegie Hall in 1944.
In these times, when attempts are being made in Finland to shed light on the past and present stages of the lives of real historical figures from all sides of society – from Jean Sibelius to Matti Nykänen – through film and play, it is fun to see that the same thing is being done elsewhere.
And what’s the matter, after all, Foster Jenkins’ story is interesting on a small scale and at least funny in principle. You can’t listen to his singing with your face on the ground – unless you have to listen to it for too long.


Music
Tasty

Quilter’s play contains some farcical excesses, but it has just as much humane warmth. Despite everything, the eccentric protagonist is treated quite empathetically, and the mockery does not go to the side of purposeful insults.
After all, Foster Jenkins was a remarkable patron of the arts thanks to his inherited fortune, and if his self-criticism cannot be praised, he nevertheless achieved a few good things in the field of supporting the art of singing. In addition, he donated the funds he received from the concert to charity.
The weakness of the text and direction is the slowness and heavy rowing that plagues a few scenes. For example, at the beginning of the play, far too much time is wasted before things get going.
The music is used very tasty. Foster Jenkins’ unique tone of voice is not allowed to experience inflation by shoving it into every crevice. Thus, the classic aria of the Queen of the Night, which culminates the play, has already had time to grow in interest before it is performed in all its magnificent splendor.


Phenomenal
Conifer


Riitta Havukainen is phenomenally good in the lead role. Jenkins’ aunt-like appearance combined with her ironclad self-confidence is succulently, and Havukainen is also able to convincingly respond to the enormous challenges posed to the human voice by Florence’s legendary vocal performances.

The other roles, Florence’s pianist (Jouko Klemettilä) and boyfriend (Pertti Koivula), her friend (Eija Vilpas) and her cook (Heidi Herala), also have very good actors. The stage implementation is impressive and functional in every way.