Cantatrices Achté

Introduction

This research concentrates on three opera singers: Emmy Achtén (1850–1924) and her daughters Aino Ackté (1876–1944) and Irma Tervan (1887–1936) and their extensive correspondence via letters. The rich source material, letters mainly in Swedish, reveals several unique points of view on the conventions of opera culture in the 19th and 20th centuries. Additionally, the material on its own is significant from a cultural history perspective and the aim is to publish the correspondence in its entirety.

The members of the research project are Anne Kauppala and Ulla-Britta Broman-Kananen.  The project has been funded by Svenska Litteratursällskapet i Finland, the foundation of Emil Aaltonen and Oskar Öflunds Stiftelse.