[1] Along with Leevi Madetoja's Pohjalaisia and Aarre Merikanto's Juha, it is considered one of the most important Finnish operas.

The opera deals with the life of the late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century folk preacher Paavo Ruotsalainen.

The combining element of the work is the hymn number 382 in the current Finnish hymnal of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, My Lord, my God in all distress (Finnish: Sinuhun turvaan Jumala) (382) which is a reoccurring theme throughout the opera.

In Helsinki and Savonlinna the most famous singers in the role of Paavo were Martti Talvela and Jaakko Ryhänen.

Paavo sobers up but shouting orders the women to leave for, as he says, to Heaven's gate he must go alone.

Interlude I Scene 2: Riitta at the Dance Paavo relives in his hallucinations key events of his life.

Three men and three women mock him and warn Riitta not to go with Paavo, a madman, for it will only bring her misery.

Riitta accuses the blacksmith for compelling Paavo to wander around in revivalist meetings, leaving family behind to starve.

The blacksmith retorts contemptuously to Riitta, but then adds that the gate of Heaven is open to those who suffer and toil.

Paavo promises to build a new house, but a wicker gate ominously reminds him of the Barrier of Heaven which he dare not approach.

Riitta threatens to kill Paavo to spare him the shame of starving his family.

Interlude VI Scene 7: Juhana's Death Revealed Village women come to the house.

Paavo has been listening, and cries that all his life God has been scourging and punishing him with an iron whip, and he has deserved it.

She feels calm and remembers the happy illusion of the first homestead on the island, where Paavo used to sing thanks to God's blessings.

"Into the sea of men I cast a net all flaming with it I search for sinful wretches.." Riitta repeats the call, but he insists he must speak at the graduation ceremony in Helsinki.

The blacksmith appears, encouraging him, then Riitta with a thanksgiving, then Juhana, singing the Lord's Prayer.

He makes sure that his will is in order, and tells his family to plant a prickly tree on his grave, for he has been the prickliest of men.

He asks the servant to read to him from the favorite tract, and begins to sing his hymn.

Martti Talvela, Ritva Auvinen, Seppo Ruohonen, Matti Lehtinen, Kalevi Koskinen, Jorma Falck, Jaakko Ryhänen, Taru Valjakka, Eini Liukko-Vaara, Raija Määttänen-Falck.