List of Finnish operatic sopranos

Aino Ackté in Wagner's Tannhäuser (1899)

This is a list of operatic sopranos and mezzo-sopranos who were born in Finland or whose work is closely associated with that country.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

A

• Aino Ackté (1878–1944), celebrated international soprano, performed at the Paris Opera, Metropolitan Opera and Covent Garden, co-founder of the Finnish Opera ^[1]
• Emmy Achté (1859–1924), mezzo-soprano, first prima donna of the Finnish Opera from 1873 to 1878, thereafter voice teacher ^[2]
• Alexandra Ahnger (1859–1940), mezzo-soprano with the Finnish Opera, soloist, voice teacher ^[3]

B

• Ida Basilier-Magelssen (1846–1928), soprano in concerts and opera, active in the Royal Swedish Opera and the Finnish Theatre ^[4]

Alma Fohström

E

• Maaria Eira (1924–1999), soprano performing in Italian opera and in musical films, later opera director ^[5]
• Emma Engdahl-Jägerskiöld (1852–1930), soprano active in opera at Helsinki's Swedish Theatre, also sang in Stockholm and Oslo ^[6]

F

• Alma Fohström (1856–1936), popular operatic soprano, performing leading roles in opera houses around the world, including the Metropolitan Opera and the Bolshoi Theatre ^[7]
• Elin Fohström (1868–1949), soprano, performed in Finland, Russia, the Baltic countries, Germany and Italy until 1897, thereafter voice teacher in Helsinki ^[8]

G

• Hanna Granfelt (1884–1952), soprano, successful in the early 20th century in Germany and later at the Finnish National Opera working with Sibelius ^[9]
• Monica Groop (born 1958), mezzo-soprano with the Finnish National Opera, guest in Los Angeles, Paris, London and Salzburg ^[10]

H

• Katherine Haataja (born 1969), mezzo-soprano, formerly active in opera houses across Europe, now supports young singers though Operosa ^[11]
• Anna Hagelstam (1883–1946), mezzo.soprano opera singer and songwriter ^[12]

Camilla Nylund in 2008

I

• Soile Isokoski (born 1957), lyric soprano in opera and concerts, performances across Europe and North America ^[13]

J

• Maikki Järnefelt (1871–1929), soprano remembered for her Wagnerian opera roles in Germany and Sweden and as a lied singer ^[14]
• Helena Juntunen (born 1976), soprano with the Finnish National Opera, international soloist ^[15]

K

• Anu Komsi (born 1967), soprano performing in opera houses across Germany, international soloist with major orchestras ^[16]

Monica Groop in 1990

L

• Sofia Liljegren (1765–1795), Finnish-Swedish soprano who was a popular performer at the Royal Swedish Opera in the 1780s ^[17]
• Tamara Lund (1941–2005), soprano, performed at the Finnish National Opera and at the Staatstheater in Munich ^[18]

Anita-Valkki in 1964

M

• Karita Mattila (born 1960), celebrated international operatic soprano, active mainly in Finland, Germany and the United States ^[19]

N

• Camilla Nylund (born 1968), dramatic lyric soprano performing mainly in German opera houses ^[20]

P

• Lilli Paasikivi (born 1965), mezzo-soprano, international opera singer and soloist, artistic director of the Finnish National Opera ^[21]

R

• Aulikki Rautawaara (1906–1990), soprano, remembered for singing works by Grieg and Sibelius, performed at Glyndebourne and in Europe's major opera houses ^[22]
• Pia Ravenna (1894–1964), celebrated coloratura soprano, performed at the Finnish National Opera in 32 operas and operettas, also in Monte Carlo, Egypt and Italy ^[23]

Irma Tervani in 1906

S

• Johanna von Schoultz (1813–1863), soprano, performed at opera houses in Italy and at the Italian Opera in Paris ^[24]

T

• Tuuli Takala (born 1987), classical singer and operatic soprano, active in Finland and in many of Europe's leading opera houses ^[25]
• Irma Tervani (1887–1936), mezzo-soprano with the Finnish Opera and the Dresden Royal Opera ^[26]

U

• Irma Urrila (born 1943), soprano, performed mainly in Helsinki, Oslo and Stockholm, known for her role as Pamina in Ingmar Bergman's film of Mozart's The Magic Flute ^[27]

V

• Taru Valjakka (born 1938), soprano, performed leading roles in the Finnish National Opera in the 1970s, also lied recitalist ^[28]
• Anita Välkki (1926–2011), dramatic soprano, international career in major roles at leading opera houses, voice teacher from 1982 ^[29]

References

1. Suhonen, Pekka (29 July 2016). "Ackté, Aino (1876 - 1944)". Kansallisbiografia (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 2017-08-05. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
2. "Emmy Charlotta Achté". Encyclopedia - The Free Dictionary. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
3. "Alexandra Ahnger (1859-1940)" (in Finnish). Yle. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
4. Løkken, Hans Olaf. "Ida Basilier Magelssen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Historiefortelleren fra Værnes. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
5. "Maaria Eira". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 15 December 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
6. Hällsten, Annika. "Emma Engdahl var en av Finlands stora operastjärnor men slutade sjunga när hon blev herrgårdsfru". www.hbl.fi (in Swedish). Retrieved 16 December 2022.
7. Haarmann, Harald (2016). Modern Finland: Portrait of a Flourishing Society. McFarland. pp. 194–. ISBN   978-1-4766-6202-2.
8. Hillila, Ruth-Esther; Hong, Barbara Blanchard (1997). Historical Dictionary of the Music and Musicians of Finland. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN   978-0-313-27728-3.
9. Karl-Josef Kutsch; Leo Riemens (22 February 2012). Granfelt, Hanna in Großes Sängerlexikon (in German). Walter de Gruyter. pp. 1808–. ISBN   978-3-598-44088-5.
10. Oron, Aryeh (2001). "Monica Groop (Mezzo-soprano)". Bach Cantatas. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
11. "Katherine Haataja". mt: mne-today. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
12. Hagelstam, Anna (1883–1946) in Otavan Iso Musiikkitietosanakirja 2. Otava, Helsinki. 1977. p. 485. ISBN   951-1-04191-6.
13. Kutsch, Karl-Josef; Riemens, Leo (2012). Isokoski, Soile in Großes Sängerlexikon, Volume 4 (in German). de Gruyter. p. 2203. ISBN   9783598440885 . Retrieved 15 December 2022.
14. Kutsch, Karl-Josef; Riemens, Leo (2012). Järnefeldt-Palmgren, Maikki in Großes Sängerlexikon, Volume 4 (in German). de Gruyter. p. 2219. ISBN   9783598440885 . Retrieved 15 December 2022.
15. "Finland: Helena Juntunen". BBC. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
16. Kutsch, Karl-Josef; Riemens, Leo (2012). Komsi, Anu in Großes Sängerlexikon, Volume 4 (in German). de Gruyter. p. 2452. ISBN   9783598440885 . Retrieved 15 December 2022.
17. Hillili, Ruth-Esther (1997). Liljegren, Sofia Ulrika. Historical Dictionary of the Music and Musicians of Finland. p. 220. ISBN   0-313-27728-1 . Retrieved 11 December 2022.
18. "Lund, Tamara" (in Swedish). Uppslagsverket Finland. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
19. Kutsch, Karl-Josef; Riemens, Leo (2012). Mattila, Karita in Großes Sängerlexikon, Volume 4 (in German). de Gruyter. p. 2992. ISBN   9783598440885 . Retrieved 15 December 2022.
20. Kutsch, Karl-Josef; Riemens, Leo (2012). Camilla Nylund in Großes Sängerlexikon, Volume 4 (in German). de Gruyter. p. 3408. ISBN   9783598440885 . Retrieved 15 December 2022.
21. ""Lilli Paasikivi practically stole the show. She was well-nigh perfect."". Harrison Parrott. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
22. Kutch, Karl-Josef: Riemens, Leo (2012). Rautawaara, Aulikki in Großes Sängerlexikon, Vol 4 (in German). de Gruyter. p. 2638. ISBN   9783598440885 . Retrieved 16 December 2022.
23. Kutch, Karl-Josef: Riemens, Leo (2012). Ravenna, Pia in Großes Sängerlexikon, Vol 4 (in German). de Gruyter. p. 3852. ISBN   9783598440885 . Retrieved 16 December 2022.
24. Hofberg, Herman (1906). "Schoultz, Johanna Carolina Ulrika in Svenskt biografiskt handlexikon II" (in Swedish). Albert Bonniers Förlag. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
25. "Tuuli Takala". Hilbert Artists Management. September 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
26. "Tervani, Irma". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
27. Kutsch, Karl-Josef; Riemens, Leo (2012). Urrila, Irma in Großes Sängerlexikon, Volume 4 (in German). de Gruyter. p. 4821. ISBN   9783598440885 . Retrieved 15 December 2022.
28. "Taru Valjakka (Soprano)". Bach Cantatas. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
29. "Opera Singer Anita Välkki Has Died". yle. 28 April 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2022.