ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses Pentti Tynkkynen’s local opera work from the perspectives of expanding professionalism and expanding professional service. It examines Finnish local opera as a particular genre of community opera, and places it in context with European traditions. The chapter introduces the key concepts of the study, including expanding professional service and local opera as affordance. Tynkkynen’s local opera work involves him in taking a wide-ranging role as a composer–producer. The chapter presents the four affordances that Tynkkynen’s local opera work has generated: the affordance of community spirit and collaboration; the affordance of building self-esteem; the affordance of a shared grieving process; and the affordance of changing perceptions of opera. One of the main goals of Tynkkynen’s opera work has been to bring opera nearer to so-called ordinary people. Tynkkynen has been a socially responsible professional, who has expanded his professionalism past his work in the parish context towards the local communities and “ordinary” Finns.
