As a young woman, Ida Aalberg needed role models, which she found during her foreign study trips. However, her talented foreign teachers warned her not to take too much inspiration from the star actors she had the opportunity to see in Paris, Berlin, and Vienna. In the opinion of the wise teachers, it was also necessary to completely abandon the imitation of admired role models.

In Ida’s mature years, her influence as an example on Finnish actors was significant, and certainly not beneficial for her fellow actors. When Ida had become famous and admired within just a few years, and both domestic and foreign critics praised her in competition, other actors began to imitate her style. However, the words and gestures remained hollow, as they lacked Ida’s passion and warmth.

Later, from the turn of the 19th to the 20th century until her death, Ida spoke about the new goals of European artistic theatres and changes in performance style. Ida closely followed the work of European artistic theatres and supported their reforms: it was necessary to abandon the so-called ‘star theatre style’ with its grand theatrical gestures and superficial pathos. The aim was to act naturally and unadornedly. Ida discussed these reforms with young actors she had selected for her troupe while touring different parts of Finland.

Art influencer of the golden age

Ida Aalberg had matured into an artist in just a few years, who influenced not only the development of stage art in her own country but also inspired and encouraged other artists, especially after the February Manifesto in 1899 during the difficult years of the oppression period. Her performances as an actress and reciter had a tremendous impact.

During the heavy years when the end of Finland was often discussed, FINIS FINLANDIAE, caused by increasingly harsh censorship regulations and Russian laws, Ida Aalberg was able to strengthen the people’s belief in the future, work, and their own culture. Ida recited poems by Runeberg, Cajander, and Suoni.

During her foreign performances and study trips, Ida, like other artists of the golden age; Jean Sibelius, Eino Leino, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Albert Edefelt, Juhani Aho, and others always remembered to mention that they were from Finland and encouraged Europeans to get to know Finland and its culture.