Mia Huhta, soprano

The soprano Mia Huhta is a graduate of the Sibelius Academy’s degree programme for soloists and she passed her final ‘A’ examination under Marjut Hannula with distinction in 2000. She has also undertaken further studies in 1992–93 at the Utrecht Conservatory in Holland as a student of Udo Reinemann. She is currently continuing her studies under David Harper.

Mia Huhta made her debut at the Finnish National Opera in Richard Strauss’ opera Die Frau Ohne Schatten. Her operatic roles include the Countess in the Marriage of Figaro, which she performed in the production by Pori Opera and Pamina in the Magic Flute, which she has performed in a production by the Finnish Chamber Opera. In addition, she has also performed the roles of Eleanor in Rautavaara’s Auringon Talon (House of the Sun) and Michaela in Bizet’s Carmen and Musetta in Puccini’s La Bohème.

Mia Huhta has also performed the lead female role of Roxanne in Eino Tamberg’s opera Cyrano de Bergerac at the Estonia Theatre. The work was also recorded and broadcast live on radio in the 15 EBU countries. The recording of the opera made for TV was broadcast in Finland in spring 2000. In the same year, Huhta sang and recorded the role of the White Lady in Mikko Heiniö’s church opera “Riddaren och Draken” (The Knight and the Dragon) at its premiere in Turku. Mia Huhta’s other recordings include recordings of Rautavaara’s soprano solos with the Finnish Radio Chamber Choir in 1995 and 2002, and the role of Kesätyttö (Summer Girl) in the recording of Merkanto’s work Juha with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

In Spring 2007, Mia Huhta performed as a soloist with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra in William Walton’s song cycle A Song for the Lord Mayor's Table. This spring her performing schedule includes Berlioz’s “Summer Nights” as the soloist with the Joensuu City Orchestra, Kaija Saariaho’s Quatre Instants as the soloist with the Pori City Orchestra, and as a soloist in Bach’s St Matthew’s Passion with the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra.

In addition to performances with Finnish orchestras, Huhta has performed as a soloist with the Osaka Symphony Orchestra, the New Philharmony Orchestra, and Mexico City’s Carlos Chavez Orchestra. She has also worked with a number of noteworthy conductors including Mikko Franck, Juha Kangas, Hannu Lintu, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, John Storgård, Susanna Mälkki, Ulf Söderblom, Arvo Volmer, Toñu Kaljuste, Muhai Tang and Suntaro Sato. Huhta has also gained a reputation for her numerous performances of passions and oratorios, including as a soloist with the Baroque orchestras Uusi Kapelli and the Sixth Floor Orchestra.

Mia Huhta won the Vox Unica singing competition in 2000, the Kangasniemi Singing Competition in 2001 and the Pentti Koskimies Lied Competition together with the pianist Hanna Susitaipale in 1999. She has been awarded special prizes in the Lappeenranta National Singing Competition in 1996 and 1999, and in addition to which was a finalist in the Timo Mustakallio singing competition in 2000.

Homepage: Mia Huhta

AMONG FORTHCOMING PERFORMANCES:

Opera 2009-2010: The Finnish National Opera, Kuusisto, Gabriel

PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES 2010:

The Finnish National Opera: Ilkka Kuusisto, "Gabriel, tule takaisin", Kristina

Pori Opera (FI): Berg, Wozzeck, Marie

RECORDINGS:

ONDINE:
Aarre Merikanto: Juha, opera
Einojuhani Rautavaara: The House of the Sun, opera
Einojuhani Rautavaara: True & False Unicorn