Otava/Sabrina Bqain

ANNA-LEENA HARKONEN TURNS 60

Songs of Sorrow and Joy

Author and actress Anna-Leena Harkonen celebrated her 60th birthday in April 2025.

Song of a Woman with a Wide Embrace, a collection of songs written by Anna-Leena Harkonen and composed by Anna-Mari Kahara, was published to mark the occasion, with live performances.

Harkonen and Kahara’s creative partnership dates back to the very beginning of Harkonen’s career. Her debut novel, How to Kill a Bull, was published in 1984 and adapted into a stage play that same year.

Kahara composed the music for the production, kicking off a collaboration that has endured for decades.

THE SONG COLLECTION was released in connection with Harkonen’s anniversary concert. 

Much like her literary works, Song of a Woman with a Wide Embrace captures the full spectrum of life and relationships—from love and heartbreak to pain and longing, as well as joy, laughter, and deeply moving moments.

Kahara’s diverse musical style complements Harkonen’s perceptive storytelling and sharp sense of humor, making their artistic collaboration a natural match.

ANNA-LEENA HARKONEN has been a leading cultural figure in Finland since the release of her debut novel in 1984. 

As an author, Harkonen is known for her delightfully insightful and precise prose, uncompromising honesty, and disarming sense of irony. She is also a celebrated screenwriter and one of Finland’s most widely recognized actors.

“I always knew I wanted to write and act. I was a very determined child: I wasn’t even willing to consider other options. I was something of an outsider until I found a group of like-minded people in the local youth theater, where I began writing plays and acting.”