Curiosidades

She was a central figure in the Finnish leftist music scene of the 1960s and 1970s, appearing both as a solo artist, and with KOM-teatteri.

In 1972, Korhonen moved on to become a teacher of directing at the Suomen Teatterikoulu (now the Helsinki Theatre Academy). Here she stayed until 1977.

After her singing career, Korhonen became an accomplished director and teacher of theatre directing.

In 1965, Korhonen was named leader of the Helsinki Ylioppilasteatteri.

Korhonen studied scenography at the Taideteollinen oppilaitos (now Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture) between 1961 and 1965.

From 2007, Korhonen worked as a freelance director.

Korhonen had first started singing in public in 1962, but Korhonen's career as a vocalist really began in the spring of 1964, with performances at the Lilla Teatern in Helsinki. At the time, Korhonen also starred in the Orvokit series of political cabarets, which aired on the radio between 1965 and 1966.

Korhonen became especially known for her interpretations of Kaj Chydenius' songs. In 1965, Korhonen married composer Kaj Chydenius. He had died five days earlier than Kaisa Korhonen.

In 1992, Korhonen proceeded to take a year-long temporary professorship at the Theatre Academy, before becoming director of the Helsinki City Theatre for a two-year term.

In 2012 she received The Life's Work Award (Finnish: Elämäntyöpalkinto).

In 1989, Korhonen co-founded and subsequently directed the Musta Rakkaus (English: Black Love) theatre company at the Tampere Theatre.

Korhonen briefly directed the Swedish Theatre's KOM-scenen, before co-founding the independent KOM-teatteri, acting as both director and actor. This travelling theatre company aimed to thus reach audiences not accustomed to theatre as an art form. KOM-teatteri also released two musical records: Porvari Nukkuu Huonosti (English: The Bourgeois Sleeps Badly) and Kansainvälinen (English: The Internationale).

Korhonen's style was marked by her loud, even shouting expression. Her singing became a symbol of the rise of leftist politics in the 1960s, and especially the Taistoist movement of the 1970s. Societal reactions to her singing were thus split, as conservatives objected both to the songs' messages, and her passionate delivery.

Between 2002 and 2004, Korhonen worked as guest professor at the Swedish Institute of Dramatic Art.

Kaisa Korhonen was a Finnish theatre director, actor, singer and dramaturge.

Between 2007 and 2009, she received an art professorship, a kind of prestigious grant, from the Finnish state.

From 1981 to 1984, Korhonen was the leader of the Swedish-speaking Lille Teatern. Afterwards, she became a professor of acting at Tampere University, where she remained for five years.

In 1995, she returned to teaching directing at the Theatre Academy - this time as a professor - for another five years.

In total, Korhonen directed more than 100 plays.

In her work as director, she was inspired by Bertolt Brecht, whose plays she had seen when she visited East Berlin in 1962. Her first stage production was Brecht's A Respectable Wedding; this production went on to win an award at a student theatre festival in Nancy. Here Korhonen also directed her then-husband Kaj Chydenius's Lapualaisooppera in 1966.