One-Woman Musical The beloved play Zarah L. tells the story of Swedish singer Zarah Leander.

An aging artist’s manor is visited by a Finnish pianist, with whom she plans to perform one last time. Leander begins to reminisce about her parents, Nazi Germany, Hitler, Goebbels and her visits to Finland. For Finns, Leander was truly a global star. The performance features well-known hits from the 1930s.

The magnificent Tiina Weckström will be seen in the title role of Hans Peter Gansner’s play, accompanied on stage by pianist Janne Viitaniemi. The production, translated and directed by Ilmari Saarelainen, premiered at Tampere Workers’ Theatre and Teatteri Avoimet Ovet in January 2001. And the story continues!

Zarah Leander – Tiina Weckström
Pianist – Janne Viitaniemi

Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes (incl. intermission)

Performance reviews
“A great star wraps the audience around her little finger – and we gladly sink into the web of these dramatic interpretations, the powerful voice and the heavy false lashes.”
Helsingin Sanomat

“Weckström’s dark voice seems made for Leander’s songs.”
Ilkka

“Perhaps no one else could have played the role of Zarah. Her Zarah irresistibly captivates the audience.”
Turun Sanomat

“In the title role, Tiina Weckström commands the stage with her charisma. It radiates as calmness and confidence to the audience. Alongside her nuanced and insightful spoken expression and mimicry, her dark, properly dramatic singing voice fits Janne Viitaniemi’s arrangements of the classics irresistibly well. The collaboration between accompanist Viitaniemi and the actress-singer is understated, yet powerful.”
Aamulehti