Aarne Pelkonen

One of the most sought-after young baritones in Finland, Aarne Pelkonen is equally at home at the operatic stages as in concert performances. Audiences will remember his competition successes at the Lappeenranta National Singing Competition (2013) and the International Jean Sibelius Singing Competition (2015). He has also garnered success at several international competitions. He studied singing at the Sibelius-Academy with Marjut Hannula, with prof. Thomas Quasthoffin in Berlin and with Thomas Hampson and Barbara Bonney at several masterclasses. During the seasons of 2015–2017 he was a member at the opera company in Oldenburg, Germany. In 2019 he made his debut at the Finnish National Opera in the leading part in Jaakko Kuusisto’s opera Jää (‘Ice’).

Aarne is a highly versatile performer who has enthralled audiences both in operas, in lied recitals, and with his interpretations of classic Finnish songs and he has performed at opera- and concert stages both nationally and internationally. His 10-year collaboration with pianist Juho Alakärppä has been critically acclaimed and has earned several prizes at international competitions. Pelkonen’s artistic work is generously supported with grants from the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Pro Musica Foundation, the Selim Eskelin Foundation, and Kesko.