Musical play *Terveisin Vexi* to premiere at Hämeenlinna Theatre in Finland

A musical play titled *Terveisin Vexi* will have its world premiere at the Hämeenlinna Theatre on Friday, November 1, 2024. The production is based on the lyrics left behind by the late lyricist Vexi Salmi. The play features 15 new songs composed by Ari Kankaanpää from Tampere. There are reportedly still many of Vexi’s lyrics waiting to be brought to life by various composers.

For the first time, the public will hear Salmi’s guidelines for composers, as he visualized his songs. He conveyed to songwriters the atmosphere, musical style, or even the ideal soloist while creating the lyrics. “In this production, we venture inside Vexi’s mind. We have access to the notes he sent to composers,” says producer Birgitta Putkonen, who also performs in the show.

The notes Salmi sent, often via fax, add a unique flavor to the production. For instance, he described the song “Virtasen baari” with the directive: “I don’t know the singer, but this would suit your older friends. Make it a grandpa jam that appeals even to teenagers. Nothing in the world has changed. Regards, Vexi.”

Some of Vexi’s lyrics were intended for the well-known Manserock band Popeda or its former lead singer Pate Mustajärvi 17 years ago, but the texts were never used. Kankaanpää has transformed a total of 32 of Salmi’s lyrics into songs during the pandemic years. Conversations with Salmi’s widow, Katri Wanner-Salmi, led to the decision to offer these songs to the Hämeenlinna Theatre. Kankaanpää emphasized that it was essential for the first public presentation of these texts to occur in Hämeenlinna, Vexi’s hometown.

The production will utilize a new performance space in Verkatehdas, designed to accommodate around 80 viewers, making for an intimate setting.