able to bring to his roles a combination of both "grandeur and gentleness". A large man, tall and weighing nearly , he was a fine vocal actor who brought an air of dignity to his roles, even to pure-evil roles like Hagen and the Grand Inquisitor. He can be seen performing on video as Boris Godunov, as Sarastro, as Osmin, as the Grand Inquisitor (in German) and as Don Fernando, and in the CBS special Beethoven's Birthday: A Celebration in Vienna, released on DVD as Bernstein on Beethoven: A Celebration in Vienna. Talvela was the first artistic leader of the Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland, from 1972–79, and had been appointed general director of the National Opera in Helsinki just before his death. In 1973 he received the Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland. During the last eight years of his life (1981 to 1989), he worked as a farmer on the Inkilänhovi (Inkilä manor) farm in Juva, Eastern Finland, while continuing his official career as an opera singer. His health had begun to decline in 1975, when he was diagnosed with diabetes and gout. In 1982 alone, he suffered two heart attacks at the Metropolitan Opera. Stomach problems also plagued him at times in the 1980s. Death Talvela died of a heart attack at age 54 while dancing at his daughter's wedding in Juva. References External links Short Biography with pictures. Talvela, Martti in National Biography of Finland. Interview with Martti Talvela, April 13, 1986. Singing Mussorgsky’s "The Field-Marshall" from Songs and Dances of Death (YouTube video). 1935 births 1989 deaths People from Lakhdenpokhsky District Operatic basses 20th-century Finnish male opera singers Finnish basses