Because of Aino Ackté's renovations, our repertoire of 2012 is moved to Villa Tomtebo. The picturesque Villa Tomtebo is located in Meilahti, next to the bridge to Seurasaari on a big garden lot. The address is Tamminiementie 1.

Welcome to experience the charm of salon culture!

Ticket reservation:
liput@ainoacktenhuvila.fi

The program can be found in the menu to the left.

Postal address:
Aino Acktén huvilan ystävät ry.
Merisotilaankatu 1 C 24
00160 Helsinki

Cultural events:
Artistic Director Suvi Olavinen
p. 045-8738008
suvi.olavinen@ainoacktenhuvila.fi

Executive Director Sten Maury
p. 044-9279892
sten.maury@ainoacktenhuvila.fi

VILLA AINO ACKTÉ

Cultural activities in Villa Aino Ackté

Aino Acktén huvilan ystävät ry (The Friends of Villa Aino Ackté Association) is a charitable non-profit cultural association which arranges high-grade cultural events in the opera singer Aino Ackté’s beautiful, cultural-historically valuable and fine-acoustic villa during the time between May and October, on 3 or 4 days a week. The Artistic Director of the Villa is the dance and recitation artist Suvi Olavinen and the cultural activities are protected by Mrs. Eeva Ahtisaari.
The cultural series includes classical and light music, chamber music, Lied, fado, jazz, flamenco and folk music, also poetry, room theatre, children’s culture and philosophy. In the Villa’s concert gallery there is a changing art exhibition.
The Villa, the grace of the surrounding seaside park and the magnificent acoustics of the concert hall create ideal conditions for cherishing the real salon culture in the metropolitan area. Numerous big-name predecessors of the Finnish cultural life have enjoyed music, acted, philophized and celebrated together in the Villa when the singer Aino Ackté acted there as a hostess in 1904 – 1944.

Tickets

Tickets are sold an hour before the performance at the door, if not stated otherwise.

Ticket reservations:
Tickets can be reserved in advance in liput@ainoacktenhuvila.fi.
E-mail reservations for the performance in the same evening must be made before 2 pm.
Ticket reservation fee is 2 € per ticket.
The reserved tickets must be redeemed at the latest 30 minutes before the performance.

Villa Aino Ackté

A two-storey timber villa built in 1877 by Commercial Councillor Henrik Borgström was for 40 years the summer home of the world famous soprano Aino Ackté. During 1986–88, the City of Helsinki, which now owns the building, renovated and restored the house to its original condition.
The Villa is open to the public on Wednesdays from 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. in May, June, July, August, September and October.
From the beginning of May to the end of October, the house can be hired as a venue for small concerts, cultural events, meetings, seminars and private events.
The Villa is closed from the beginning of November to the end of April.

History

In 1558 a merchant from Porvoo, Per Jönsson, received the Tullisaari (Turholm) Estate in what is today the Laajasalo district of Helsinki from King Gustav Vasa as payment. In 1687 the estate became a captain’s official residence. The captain’s quarters that were built in the late 1600s were among the first buildings in Finland to feature glass windows. This building was demolished most probably in the early 20th century.
The main building of Tullisaari Manor was probably built by Lieutenant Colonel Adolf Fredrik Virgin in 1795 and burnt down in the 1950s. In 1838 Commercial Councillor Henrik Borgström acquired the lease to the manor from the Tsar and later purchased it outright. Borgström spent summers with his family at Tullisaari from 1838 onwards.
Commercial Councillor Henrik Borgström (1799-1883) played an important role in business and cultural life in Finland. In 1834 he established a cigarette factory on the corner of Meritullinkatu and Pohjoisranta, where the original buildings can still be admired. Borgström was a patron of the arts and culture, and his homes in town and at Tullisaari became important gathering places for Helsinki’s writers and artists.
Borgström was also a friend and supporter of the great Finnish statesman J. V. Snellman. He was active in the Finska Konstföreningen and served as chairman of the konstnärsgillet. Kaivopuisto Park was created by him in the 1830s. He also turned the Eläintarha municipal gardens into a park, which he donated to the city in 1877. Henrik and Carolina Borgström had 11 children. Borgström built villas at Tullisaari near the main building for three of his children. These were designed by Borgström’s son-in-law Theodor Decker. One of the buildings, Leonard’s villa, was demolished in the 1960s. Adele Decker’s villa is privately owned. The third villa, which was built for Borgström’s daughter Emilie af Lindfors in 1877, became the home of world famous soprano Aino Ackté.
Although Villa Aino Ackté transferred to the City of Helsinki’s ownership in 1929, Aino Ackté continued to live in the house until her death in 1944. Thereafter the villa remained empty. At the end of the 1970s plans were drawn up to situate the Helsinki Summer Theatre at Tullisaari, but this created a lot of opposition among locals in Laajasalo. Historical research carried out as part of the theatre project demonstrated that Villa Aino Ackté should be a protected property due to its unique value. Local residents then proposed that the building be renovated for use as a cultural centre.
The final inspiration came in 1985, when three local residents submitted a proposal on Aino’s nameday to renovate the building for use as a chamber music venue. The city subsequently made the decision to renovate the building in 1986, and work began in December 1987. In early 1988 the building was handed over to the Helsinki City Cultural Office.

Tullisaari Park

Tullisaari is situated along the rocky shores at the northern end of the Laajasalo district. The history of the estate goes back to the 16th century. The main building that was built in the 18th century was destroyed by far in 1958, and of the three villas that were built in the late 19th century, only Villa Aino Ackté and Villa Decker remain.
Tullisaari park stretches along the shores of two headlands. The western headland is forested, while the eastern headland is covered by a large landscaped park that was created in the 19th century. The park features many valuable trees, including fine oaks, thick-barked birches, Finland’s thickest recorded black alder, forest linden and park linden.
A walking path stretches along the shore with vantage points along the way. A large agricultural garden was once located on the eastern headland, and you can still find a pea bush, a lilac bush and berry bushes.
The park covers a total area of 46 hectares, approximately half of which consists of landscaped gardens.
The plan of the park area was confirmed in 1999, and the area has been declared a protected area of high cultural historic, gardening and landscaping value. Part of the park was also declared a recreational area. Tullisaari represents an important Finnish cultural historic environment.
The park was created by Commercial Councillor Henrik Borgström (1799-1883). Deciduous trees and bushes were planted, giving the park its lush appearance. Romantic vantage points were created along twisting paths, but Borgström’s main objective was to highlight the area’s own natural surroundings and environment.
The Helsinki City Public Works Department renovated Tullisaari Park between 2000 and 2004, before which the park had not been extensively maintained for decades. The aim of the restoration work was to highlight the unique characteristics of Tullisaari, in particular the careful placement of four villas within the park. At the same time efforts were made to restore the area’s park-like nature, landscaping and views. The network of paths was uncovered, and the seascape was enhanced by dredging Tullisaari Bay. Curved bridges have been reconstructed over ditches based on photographic records from the early 20th century. Only some of the original flowerbeds have been replanted. Other historical characteristics of the park have also been preserved, such as a chalk quarry dating back to the 1550s that is now filled with water. To enhance the recreational use of the park, a pier for ferries has been built, along with a grilling area, camping area and sports field.
Future projects include restoring the gardens around Leonard Borgström’s villa and possibly reconstructing a lookout tower on the western headland.

Aino Ackté (23.4.1876 - 8.8.1944)

Aino Ackté was one of the most celebrated sopranos of her time in Europe and a pioneer in Finnish opera. Aino Ackté’s parents were conductor-composer Lorenz Nikolai Achté and mezzosoprano Emmy Strömmer-Achté. As a child Aino Ackté studied under her mother’s tutelage. At her debut in 1893 at the age of 17 she impressed audiences with her pure and relaxed technique. She enjoyed tremendous success and the following autumn left for Paris, where she was accepted as the best among 197 applicants to the Paris Conservatory (Edmond Duvernoy and Alfred Girodet).
Upon completion of her studies three years later, she debuted at the Paris Grand Opera in 1897 and was signed on for six years as a result. Her performance as Margareta in Gounod’s Faust was a complete success. Aino Ackté sang in Paris for six years, during which time she progressed from lyrical to more dramatic parts, including Wagner. At the peak of her career Aino Ackté toured the great stages of Europe in Paris, London and Germany. She then performed at the New York Metropolitan Opera from 1904 to 1906.
Aino Ackté worked actively to support Finnish opera. She was one of the founders of the Kotimainen Ooppera, which later became the Finnish Opera and subsequently the Finnish National Opera. Aino Ackté organised an international Savonlinna Opera Festival in 1912-1914, 1916 and 1930. Ackté was also an important teacher.
Ackté ended her public performances abroad already in 1913. Her farewell performance in Finland was Tosca in 1920 at the Finnish Opera. Aino Ackté’s most famous roles during her distinguished career included Margareta in Faust, Elsa in Lohengrin, Elisabeth in Tannhäuser, Tosca and Richard Strauss’ Salome, her most beloved role.

Welcome to Villa Aino Ackté!

Visiting address: Tullisaaren ulkoilupuisto, Laajasalo, 00840 Helsinki

Public transportation:
Take the metro heading east (Vuosaari and Mellunmäki metros) to Herttoniemi. Then take Bus 88 to Kaitalahti. The nearest bus stop to the villa is the second stop on Henrik Borgströmintie (the name of the bus stop is Tullisaari 1).
Bus timetables are available on the Helsinki City Transport website. Public transportation connections can be checked on the Journey Planner.

Getting there by car:
Drive from Herttoniemi to Laajasalo and Villa Aino Ackté along the following route: Linnanrakentajantie – Laajasalontie – Koirasaarentie – Henrik Borgströmintie – Tullisaaren ulkoilupuisto (Tullisaari Park). Driving in the park area is not permitted. The Villa is a 300-metre-walk from the parking lot.
Transportation for the disabled in front of the Villa must be contracted separately: sten.maury@ainoacktenhuvila.fi.

Villa Aino Ackté’s e-mail: info@ainoacktenhuvila.fi