ELLI VALLINOJA

Biography

Elli Vallinoja is a young Finnish mezzo-soprano who has received acclaim for her beautiful, well-projected voice and commanding stage presence. Her repertoire is notably versatile, spanning from Baroque music to contemporary works and modern musicals. A graduate of the Sibelius Academy, she studied both opera performance and vocal pedagogy in the Vocal Department.

She made her debut at the Finnish National Opera in 2010 and has since appeared in over 15 productions. Her most recent roles there include the Page of Herodias in Richard Strauss’ Salome, Prince Orlovsky in Johann Strauss’ operetta Die Fledermaus, and a mezzo-soprano role in the groundbreaking opera-circus fusion production Circopera 2.0. In March 2024, she made her debut at Tampere Opera in La Traviata, portraying Annina, and she will return in spring 2025 to sing the Second Lady in The Last Temptations by Joonas Kokkonen. Vallinoja made a highly praised international debut during the 2016-2017 season as Ottavia in the Opera de Lyon’s production of Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea, which was also performed at the Opera de Vichy and the Royal Opera of Versailles. In the field of musical theater, her most recent significant role was in 2023 at Turku City Theatre, where she performed as Francesca Johnson in The Bridges of Madison County.

Vallinoja has appeared as a soloist in both opera and concert performances, including at the Turku Music Festival, Korsholm Music Festival, Vocal Espoo Festival, Turku City Theatre, Ilmajoki Music Festival, Mänttä Music Festival, and Lemi Music Festival. Her soloist engagements have included works such as Mozart’s Requiem, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Bach’s passions and oratorios, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Handel’s Messiah. Recent concert highlights include performing Mahler’s 8th Symphony (1st Alto/Mulier Samaritana) with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and Jukka-Pekka Saraste, as well as orchestral songs by A. Mahler and G. Mahler with Tapiola Sinfonietta and Taavi Oramo. Vallinoja is also an advocate for contemporary music and has premiered works by Finnish composers such as Uljas Pulkkis, Heta Aho, Jukka Nykänen, and Kirmo Lintinen.

In June 2018, she received both second place and the Lied Prize at the International Haydn Competition for Classical Lied and Aria. In 2016, she was a finalist in the International Zinka Milanov Competition in Croatia and the International Wilhelm Stenhammar Competition in Sweden. Nationally, she won first prize at the Erkki Melartin Lied Competition (2010) and third prize at the Kangasniemi Singing Competition (2011).

Vallinoja’s musical training began at the age of four with piano lessons. Throughout her school years, she sang in various choirs, bands, and a cappella groups. Contemporary musical theater also played a significant role in her life, and her first professional engagements were in theatrical productions such as Fiddler on the Roof. In 2010, she took on a leading role in the musical film If You Love. Vallinoja is a grantee of the Finnish Cultural Foundation, Wihuri Foundation, Selim Eskelin Foundation, and Pro Musica Foundation.

Photo Gallery

”La mezzo-soprano Elli Vallinoja n’appelle elle aussi que des éloges avec sa voix homogène et longue, son timbre clair aux graves affirmés. On reste admiratif face à la gestion des phrases longues et de son legato, un vibrato juste ce qu’il faut et une sobriété tout à fait à propos dans cette œuvre religieuse.”

The mezzo-soprano Elli Vallinoja calls only for praise with her homogenous and long voice that has clear timbre and assured low notes. We admire her legato and management of long phrases, her vibrato that is just right and her moderation that fits this religious work well.
-Baroquenews.com (Händel:Messias-oratorio/Köln 2019)

”I solistoktetten noterar vi framförallt… – samt Elli Vallinojas mustiga mezzosopran.”
”In the soloist octet we notice especially… -and Elli Vallinoja’s rich mezzo-soprano.”
-Mats Liljeroos, HBL 2024

”Med sin sprakande scenpersonlighet och  bärande röst talar Elli Vallinoja (Tove) direkt till hjärtat.”
”With her sparkling stage personality and carrying voice, Elli Vallinoja (Tove) speaks directly to the heart.”
-Jan Granberg, HBL 2022

”Elli Vallinoja teki Marinan roolin verevästi ja inhimillisesti, eikä hulluuden kuvaus mennyt riuhtomiseksi…. – Vallinoja sai tilaisuuden näyttää myös mezzonsa kaunista sointia”
”E. V. did Marina’s role freshly and humanly, and her depiction of insanity didn’t go into wrenching. Vallinoja had also a chance to show the beautiful timbre of her mezzo”
-Harri Kuusisaari, Rondo 2024