According to research, music can be useful in the treatment and prevention of many diseases. Opera Society Operation! ry strives to make low-threshold opera art.
– It made me feel really good, Lehtikari says.
It has been many years since the trip to the National Opera, but now Lehtikari had the opportunity to experience opera again. He is involved in the operation of Helsinki Klubitalo, which provides support services for mental health rehabilitation. Recently, through Klubitalo, the opportunity to travel to Tallinn’s Fotografiska museum opened up, now the partner is the Operaatio! opera association.
Cooperation with cultural institutions seems worthwhile.
– It is really useful for people like us. This kind of thing lowers the threshold to come to cultural tours, Lehtikari states.
In Kannelmäki’s Carmen, the final decision takes place at Kotka sea days
Hautaniemi’s hair stands up convincingly. Hair spray smells in the corridors.
– The story fits perfectly in Finland. The youth gangs quarreled with each other. Illegal liquor is sold. Carmen is afraid of being alone and needs love. Basically, the story goes the same way as in the original *Carmen*.
Half psychiatrist, half opera singer
Among other things, Hautaniemi, who worked as a specialist in psychiatry at Kellokoski and sang professionally in the choir of the Finnish National Opera, has since arranged his affairs so that about half of his working time is spent as a psychiatrist, and half as an opera singer.
– Psychiatrist and musician are a mirror of people’s feelings. Both professions deal with emotional life, Hautaniemi sums up.
Operation! offers opera art at a low threshold for audience groups that are difficult to reach. That is exactly why the association has cooperated in addition to Klubitalo with, among others, the Finnish Mental Health Society, Helsinki City Psychiatry Outpatient Care, TE Office and Stadi’s Center of Expertise integration training.
– Research has shown that music has health effects, and opera is behind a threshold that is difficult to cross for many. We bring it close and offer places for invited guests through cooperation.
Hauaniemi doesn’t write music recipes
This time, among other things, the people of the Klubitalo got invited guest tickets to the general practice held on Monday.
In a meta-analysis by the World Health Organization WHO (2019), it has been stated that music can be useful in the treatment and prevention of many diseases. It can also relieve, among other things, anxiety. There were three thousand studies focused on the topic to be analyzed.
The health effects of music are therefore indisputable, but there is no general knowledge internalized by the entire nation – nor does Hautaniemika’s psychiatrist write music prescriptions, as he stated in a recent interview with Lääkärilehti.
For example, the most important thing in recovering from depression is to find something to do that gives you pleasure. It can be sought by talking with the patient.
As an opera singer, Hautaniemi is of the opinion that music should at least be tried.
– The subject is being studied more and more all the time, and there is evidence of the health effects of music. Therefore, it would be really important that culture does not remain on the margins of society, Hautaniemi states.
\”Opera exceeds expectations\”
It is dark in the Kanneltalo hall. Timka Lehtikari sits on her bench and browses through the magazine. Dress rehearsal begins.
– I’m looking forward to a really interesting evening. Yes, it is true that expectations have been exceeded when you have been to the opera.
Mari Hautaniemi is illuminated on the wall of the hall next to the audience with a spot light. Carmen begins to sing *Habanera*, perhaps the most famous aria in opera literature.
*Edited at 12:20 p.m.: the quote by Mari Hautaniemi was clarified at the end of the story, regarding the fact that there is evidence specifically for the health effects of music.*