Forbidden Melodies in My Life Song Episode With Arja Saijonmaa and Leri Leskinen

In a captivating episode of the music series My Life Song, classical compositions took center stage, accompanied by extraordinary stories from guests Arja Saijonmaa and Leri Leskinen, both prominent figures in the music industry. The episode, hosted by Katja Stahl, uncovered the select tracks with hidden, even illegal backstories tied to the guests' personal experiences.

Unexpected Revelations

The episode unfolded in the iconic Helsinki Musicidalo, where the guests revealed secret anecdotes connected to their favorite classical pieces. Saijonmaa, a respected singer, and Leskinen, a renowned musician, shared insights into their selections, leaving the audience intrigued by their past adventures.

Leskinen's Illicit Memory

Leskinen reminisced about an illegal memory from his youth, which involved going to a restaurant and underage drinking. He fondly remembered the sense of bliss he felt, linking this memory to the moving sounds of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in the Adagio area, a stark contrast to other guests guessing it might be Brahms' stirring Hungarian Dance No. 5.

An Embarrassing Incident for Lindgren

Minna Lindgren, a journalist-writer and politician, recalled a mortifying moment from her youth involving a performance gone awry due to an unexpected papillote incident. The embarrassment she felt at that time was associated with the piece she was performing.

Guests' Classical Connections

In this special episode, other notable figures such as Sami Itani and Iro Randalon also shared the impact of classical music on their lives. Randalon expressed the emotive force behind Verdi's Traviata, and Itani conveyed the solace that Tchaikovsky's music provided during a difficult period in his life.

Saijonmaa's Daring Act

Arja Saijonmaa brought everyone to the edge of their seats with a tale of her bold act to smuggle Greek composer and politician Mikis Theodorakis, who was then a political refugee without a passport, onboard a ship. This escapade was carried out during the oppressive Greek military regime era.

Saijonmaa further shared how Theodorakis was brought to her family's rural retreat in eastern Finland following their audacious move. The anecdote culminated in a creative connection to a Sibelius piece, as Saijonmaa pointed to a ridge named after the famous composer and alluded to the elegiac melody of Duonela's Swan.

The Legacy of Music and Memories

The episode not only highlighted the transformative power of classical music but also illustrated how personal stories and classic compositions can intertwine, creating unique and memorable experiences for both the guests and the viewers.

classical, forbidden, memory