Evening in a manor
The Glamour and Curtsy exhibition goes back in time to the heyday of manors in the 19th century and delves light-heartedly into the atmosphere of a salon in the Romantic period. The programme includes lieds, baked goods and contra dance!
To kick off the evening, the Arabia kaikuu lied collective will perform a dramatised concert entitled Dance macabre – henkirikoksia herraskartanossa (‘Dance Macabre – Murders in a Manor House’). A celebration of spring is being held at the manor. The tycoon hosting the party declares that drinks will be flowing this evening and the guests are in a jolly mood. The ghost of the manor is wistfully watching the living celebrate – and suddenly receives company: One of the guests falls to the ground, dead. Before long, another guest meets the same fate. Secrets and bitter grudges lead to one murder after another. But who is the murderer? The performance will feature pieces by composers such as W. A. Mozart, J. Strauss and O. Merikanto.
During the intermission, you can buy old-time baked goods suited for a manor at a coffee buffet held by Kalevan Martat. To start a ball that will wrap up the evening, Seurasaaren Kansantanssijat will perform a contra dance popular in the 19th century, and the audience will be invited to join in and learn. To cap things off, everyone will get to waltz under a crystal chandelier, accompanied by a piano.
Tickets €25
Photo: Found in the collections of Helsinki City Museum, the drawing by August Mannerheim from the 1840s is a lively depiction of the atmosphere of balls held in salons of the era, which the event at Villa Hakasalmi is now reviving.