Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

Esa Ruuttunen is a Finnish classical music artist who has made a name for himself as a baritone singer. He was born on May 2, 1964, in Helsinki, Finland. Ruuttunen grew up in a musical family, with his father being a choir conductor and his mother a pianist. He started singing at a young age and was encouraged by his parents to pursue a career in music. Ruuttunen studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where he received his degree in vocal performance. He also studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, and the Juilliard School in New York City. During his studies, he won several awards, including the Lappeenranta Singing Competition in 1987 and the Timo Mustakallio Singing Competition in 1988. Ruuttunen made his professional debut in 1988 at the Finnish National Opera, where he performed the role of Schaunard in Puccini's La bohème. He quickly gained recognition for his powerful voice and expressive performances. He went on to perform at many of the world's leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Royal Opera House in London, and the Paris Opera. One of Ruuttunen's most notable performances was his portrayal of the title character in Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Salzburg Festival in 1994. His performance was widely praised for its depth and intensity, and it helped establish him as one of the leading baritones of his generation. He has also performed in many other Mozart operas, including The Marriage of Figaro and Così fan tutte. Ruuttunen has also been a frequent performer of Finnish music, both in opera and in concert. He has worked closely with many Finnish composers, including Einojuhani Rautavaara and Kaija Saariaho. He has also performed in many of the major Finnish music festivals, including the Savonlinna Opera Festival and the Helsinki Festival. In addition to his work in opera, Ruuttunen is also a highly sought-after concert performer. He has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. He has also collaborated with many of the leading conductors of our time, including Sir Simon Rattle, Daniel Barenboim, and Riccardo Muti. Ruuttunen has received many awards and honors throughout his career. In 1993, he was awarded the Pro Finlandia Medal, one of Finland's highest honors for cultural achievement. He has also been awarded the Finnish State Prize for Music and the Order of the Lion of Finland. In 2014, he was awarded the title of Kammersänger by the Vienna State Opera, in recognition of his contributions to the world of opera. Ruuttunen continues to perform regularly, both in opera and in concert. He is known for his powerful voice, his expressive performances, and his deep commitment to the music he performs. He is widely regarded as one of the leading baritones of his generation, and his contributions to the world of classical music have been significant and lasting.

More....