There is deep trust between the couple. On business trips, they focus on work and at home on running the family’s everyday life together.
The arrival of autumn means cruises and theater in the family of Tiina Räsänen and Petri Hervanno. Not that they themselves are customers, but at work.
– The last month and a half have been quite intense in the theater and I’m such a person that when I start training, I don’t even rest at night, Tiina describes her current state.
– Petri has taken care of our visits to the grocery store, cooking and taking the child to practice, and I have been focused on work, he continues.
Tiina and Petri think that life should not be taken too seriously. That’s why they make sure that there is enough humor in the relationship. Pete Anikari
The tango queen of 1994 will be seen this fall for the first time on the stage of the Varkaus Theater Mind blowing– in the musical. Meanwhile, Petri, who was crowned tango king in 1999, regularly performs on the ship, and the trips can even last several weeks.
– Everyday usually goes like that, we take turns at work. Of course, sometimes there are situations where we are both away, and then we need help from the grandparents, Petri opens.
The stage of the Varkaus Theater has become familiar to Petri over the years. He performed in that theater for the first time in 2006. It has been interesting for him to watch how his wife goes through the same emotions that he had during the first theater production. Although Petri has more experience on theater stages, he does not want to advise Tiina on how to do the work.
– We are certainly both fast, but our speed is different. You want to be ready quickly, while I get down to business quickly, says Petri.
– I, on the other hand, am not patient. I demand a lot from myself, and I have chaos inside my own head, Tiina answers.
The couple has managed to keep everyday life in such a way that work does not come home. Even though you might think otherwise, at home you don’t sing songs or read scripts.
– If Petri has had any theater work, I am not necessarily interested in it. He runs things in his head and I run mine, Tiina opens.
Tiina and Petri do not dream of a luxurious life or fancy things. Ordinary everyday life and the happiness of loved ones are the most important things in life. Pete Anikari
Children grow up
A large part of everyday life is spent on the child’s hobbies and taking care of himself. 14 years old Emelie achieved a black belt in taekwondo in the spring, and the sport is a family affair.
Both Tiina and Petri feel that because of their profession, they have been able to be even more present in their children’s lives than other working parents. Their work is largely focused on traveling and evenings, and they spend a lot of time at home.
– A teenage boy must never be alone, because one of them is at home all the time, and usually both, Tiina opens.
– I feel more that I at least needed that alone time, which I never really have. I’m already old enough to say that I like my own company and would need it more, he continues.
Tiina’s oldest child will soon be 30 years old. So he knows that children grow up and move away from home faster than he thinks.
– It’s really wonderful that we still have that time together, because time goes by so fast. When Eemeli leaves the house, you can’t see anything but your heels.
No homesickness
The couple also says honestly that they don’t miss being on cruises on a ship or at other gigs.
There is a clear reason for that too.
Both Tiina and Petri have been gigging for over 30 years. So you are used to leaving home and the nature of work, and working in a fixed theater for several months feels more strange to Tiina.
– The ship has its own time, and that’s the best. I have also always assumed that work is being done there, and I don’t long for home. For example, I have spent one Christmas Eve alone on a ship. I already decided when I left home that I would either go and do the work or not go at all. I can’t worry on the ship that I should be home, because then it will be a very dreary trip, Tiina reflects.
– I don’t miss Petri, and I don’t miss the children either. Doing this job would be really disgusting if you had to miss or worry all the time. I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on work, he continues.
Petri and Tiina do not miss each other. Both know that the other is waiting at home. Pete Anikari
Petri also highlights the quality of the work.
– It’s nice to go to work because there are nice jobs and nice people. Then again, when you’re coming home, it’s nice to pack the day before on the ship and think that you’ll be home again soon. However, at no point does it happen that you look elsewhere. It would be different if you were on a trip for, say, half a year, but it’s only a matter of weeks at most.
The Corona period was a kind of crisis for both Tiina and Petri. The two artists went home with a child and a dog, and there was no telling when things would return to normal.
– The Corona era taught both financially and through changes that with time everything can be solved. Your attitude affects it a lot. We never ran out of food on the table one day and we always had all the basics we needed. It was stressful, but nothing lasts forever, Tiina continues.
However, the effects of the corona are still visible. The couple has a joint stock company founded in 2006, whose finances were greatly affected by the pandemic.
– During Corona, we really went backwards from where we started 20 years ago. Now we are in a zero situation, i.e. as if we were moving forward as new entrepreneurs, says Petri.
A long union lasts
Tiina and Petri got married at the Tango market in 2001. However, everything has not always been easy.
– The relationship was a bit strained and you had to take a breath in 2007… Or 8, or 9? Tiina tries to remember.
– I don’t remember anymore, Petri laughs.
Petri has worked in Varkaus theater in several different productions. He watches his wife’s debut on the same stage with interest. Pete Anikari
After a break, the couple got back together and they had a child together. Tiina considers a moment’s respite a good thing.
– In quite a few long relationships, you definitely feel like you need to take a breath somewhere in between. If someone says they’ve always gotten along so well, they’re lying, Tiinaa laughs.
– I was 24 years old and Petri was 27 years old when we met. Today he is over 50 and I am a little under. There is already a big difference between what kind of people we were then and what kind of people we are now. I’m also thinking that everyone wouldn’t even be together anymore. So think how wonderful your life is when you’ve had so many years with me! Tiina says looking at Petri.
– I think so, and I’m happy, Petri answers.
Happiness and satisfaction with everyday life and life together makes the couple stick together. Both Petri and Tiina think that they have fun together and that they can talk about everything openly in their relationship.
– I don’t know if you need to dig for any bigger reason for it, if things are going well in life, you’re having fun and you’re happy. Why should we dig that there is something that rubs or why we are here? Then this gets difficult, says Petri.
– We know how to be quiet if necessary, but we are quite loud at home. Perhaps a sense of humor is also a very important part of a relationship, he continues.
Petri and Tiina have been together for half their lives. – It’s an incredibly long time, says Tiina. Pete Anikari
New territorial conquest together
At the beginning of the 2000s, Tiina and Petri did a lot of gigs together, but for the last decade they have largely focused on their own projects, both in music and in completely other fields. Neither of them wants to be thought of as “one unit” or a singing couple, but as individuals and their own artists and actors.
Next summer, however, the situation will change. The couple will be seen at Äänekoski’s summer theater in Kartano’s Kievari The land of happiness -in a musical play together.
Tiina Räsänen knew right away that the Onnen maa musical is exactly where she wants her own spouse as her co-star. Pete Anikari
At first, another person was considered for Tiina as the opposite actress. When another person got in the way, Tiina thought about who she would like to play tango royalty with. A potential co-star was found at home.
– I’ve always said that I don’t want to act as a couple with Petri, because it somehow feels too private. It would feel somehow unnatural to kiss on stage or to appear together like that. Everyone surely knows that we are together and live under the same roof, so there is no need to underline that.
– However, there is a topic in this play that could not be ignored. Onnen maa is based on tango and I thought I couldn’t do this with anyone but Petri.
More than a thousand curious tango fans attended the couple’s wedding in 2001. Tiina can see The land of happiness -in the musical play, the audience has a great opportunity to relive memories from more than twenty years ago.
– It’s special when two tango royalty are married. Now people get to watch us together while listening to tango music in a romantic country landscape in the style of a summer theater, Tiina concludes.
Petri and Tiina will be seen together on the theater stage next year. Ville-Veikko Valtanen