Essi Luttinen, mezzo-soprano

Essi Luttinen graduated with the highest possible distinction from the Sibelius Academy, where she was taught by Marjut Hannula. In 2002-2004 she continued her studies at the Royal College of Music in London as a soloist at the Benjamin Britten International Opera School. She has also studied privately in Rome, Hamburg and most recently in Berlin under Professor Elisabeth Werres.

Essi Luttinen’s voice has been widely praised for its beautiful, rich and expressive quality. The highlights of her 2011-2012 season will include the role of Marchesa Melibea in The Journey to Reims by Gioachino Rossini and her debut at Oslo’s Den Nye Opera in the role of Aloés in E. Chabrier’s opera L’Étoile. Luttinen’s operatic repertoire also includes some of the key Mozart roles, such as Sextus (La Clemenza di Tito), Cherubino (Marriage of Figaro), Dorabella (Così fan tutte) and Second Lady (Magic Flute). She has also appeared in the roles of Olga(Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin), Mercédès (Bizet: Carmen) and Siebel (Gounod: Faust). Luttinen has also performed and premiered a great deal of contemporary operas (including works by Koskinen, Lintinen and Kortekangas) and she has appeared in London’s Handel Festival as Nerone (Agrippina) and in the title role of Sosarme. Finnish audiences have had the privilege of hearing her at the Finnish National Opera as well as at the Savonlinna Opera Festival and the regional operas of Turku, Jyväskylä and Oulu.

Luttinen is a sought-after concert performer, and her extensive repertoire ranges from early Baroque to contemporary music. She has performed as the soloist with many of the leading Finnish orchestras and has appeared in many major international festivals in countries such as Belgium, the UK, Japan and Germany. She has worked with several leading conductors of the day, including Stefan Asbury, Hannu Lintu, John Storgårds, Juha Kangas, Dimitri Slobodeniouk and Peter Schreier.

In summer 2005, Luttinen won first prize at Finland’s Merikanto Singing Competition at the Art Centre Salmela, and was one of the ten finalists at the international Competizione dell’Opera in Dresden. The same year, she was also awarded the Karita Mattila Prize. In 2006, she won second prize in the female category at the National Lappeenranta Singing Competition. She has recorded Olli Kortekangas’ opera Messenius and Lucia for the Ondine label, and has made several radio recordings for the Finnish Broadcasting Company.

Huvudstadsbladet / Mats Liljeroos: “Essi Luttinen is one of our best mezzo-sopranos at the moment with a superb sense of drama, and she complements her rich vocal expression with evocative facial expressions and gestures. (14.8. 2010)

Rondo Classica / Harri Kuusisaari: "The absolute star among the soloists was Essi Luttinen as Dorabella. She identifies with her sensuous character so completely that she does not really need to act. Her vocal sound is beautiful and impressive".

Turun Sanomat / Matti Lehtonen: "Mezzo-soprano Essi Luttinen, who sang the role of Dorabella, did so with such confidence, skill and musical insight that she could easily perform the role on any opera stage of the world. Her interpretation was absolutely mesmerising.”

Voice Sample: E-Concerthouse, Turku (FI)

AMONG FUTURE APPREANCES:

OPERA: Finnish National Opera, Rossini: The Journey to Reims (from 7 January)

OPERA: Den Nye Opera (Bergen), Chabrier: L'Etoile (Premiere, 4 February 2012)

Sunday 1 April 2012, 4 p.m., Helsinki Music Centre, Concert Hall, Haydn: The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross
Helsinki Baroque Orchestra 15 years!

Su 22.4.2012 klo 15, Burgh House, Lontoo, resitaalikonsertti pianisti Roope Gröndahlin kanssa. Ohjelmassa Sibeliusta.

OPERA: FITNESS-Lightopera, comp. Kirmo Lintinen, Helsinki Baroque Orchestra

Picture: Finnish National Opera, Rossini’s opera The Journey to Reims; Tuomas Katajala, tenor, and Essi Luttinen, mezzo-soprano.