Professori[1]

Alfons Almi
picture of Alfons Almi
Almi c. 1950
Born
Alfons Aleksander Alm

(1904-08-20)20 August 1904
Helsinki, Grand Duchy of Finland
Died22 February 1991(1991-02-22) (aged 86)
Helsinki, Finland
NationalityFinnish
OccupationOpera singer
Known forDirector-General of Finnish National Opera
Spouses
Aini née Lehtinen
​
​
(m. 1931⁠–⁠1951)​
    Doris née Laine
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1952⁠–⁠1991)​

    Alfons Almi (né Alm, until 1935;[2] 20 August 1904 — 22 February 1991)[1] was a Finnish opera singer and administrator. He has been described as the 'father of Finnish opera'.[3]

    Career

    Almi sang the principal tenor at the Opera of Finland (later to become the Finnish National Opera) from 1934 to 1952.[4][5]

    He later moved into management, first as the Finance Manager from 1952, then progressing to general management, and eventually reaching the post of Director General from 1966 to 1971.[4] He also sat on the company's supervisory council and board of directors from 1940 to 1971.[4][5]

    One of his main achievements was the establishment of the National Opera's own in-house orchestra.[5] He also worked tirelessly towards the development of the National Opera's new, purpose-built premises.[5][6][2]

    The Finnish National Opera's new home, which Almi was instrumental in developing.

    The second stage of the new opera house is named after him.[7]

    Outside of the National Opera, Almi served in administrative and leadership positions at numerous cultural and public organisations.[4]

    Awards and honours

    In 1966, the honorary title of Professori was conferred on Laine by President Urho Kekkonen.[4][2]

    In 1983, Almi was awarded the annual Eskon Puumerkki prize by the Aleksis Kiven Seura.[6]

    Personal life

    Alfons Alm was born to a working-class family in Helsinki.[4][8] Both his parents had died by the time he was 10, leaving Alm to look after his siblings.[8]

    Almi studied agriculture and dairy production, and initially worked in management roles in the dairy industry, before following his true vocation and retraining as a singer.[8][4][2]

    Almi served as a junior officer in the Continuation War meritoriously,[8] and was decorated with multiple medals.[4]

    He was married twice, first to Aini née Lehtinen from 1931 to 1951, and then to the ballet dancer and Artistic Director of the Finnish National Ballet, Doris Laine, from 1952 until his death.[4] He had one child from each of his marriages.[4] His daughter, Heidi, from his second marriage, works in a management role at the National Opera and Ballet, following in her parents' footsteps.[3]

    References

    1. 1 2 "Alfons Almi" (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. 22 February 1991. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
    2. 1 2 3 4 "Almi, Alfons". Uppslagsverket.fi (in Swedish). Retrieved 16 January 2021.
    3. 1 2 "Aiotko tuoda jenkkisysteemin kulttuurialalle ja hävittää valtion tuet Heidi Almi?" (in Finnish). Seura. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
    4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Kuka Kukin On (Who's Who) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Otava. 1978. pp. 44–45. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
    5. 1 2 3 4 "Almi, Alfons (1904 - 1991)" (in Finnish). National Biography of Finland. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
    6. 1 2 "Eskon Puumerkin saajat". Aleksis Kivi Society. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
    7. ↑ "Services". Finnish National Opera and Ballet. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
    8. 1 2 3 4 "Oopperanjohtaja Alfons Almi joutui aloittamaan vastuunkannon jo 10-vuotiaana orpopoikana" (in Finnish). Yle. 20 August 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
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