Before you became the artistic director of the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki, you were a popular international mezzosoprano. What is it that excites you about working with young singers?

Lilli Paasikivi: The goal of an Opera Studio is to give young singers valuable insights into the life of an opera soloist, to provide them with the necessary tools and help them start their careers. I have always been supported by my colleagues and had several mentors; and, therefore, I know how important it is for young singers to have experienced people around them, who love to share their knowledge.

As a singer, I participated in a lot of castings and competitions. But as artistic director of the Finish National Opera I have also seen the other side of the casting process and I was a member of the jury of many competitions. So, I know what this job requires. I also want to help young singers build the best version of themselves to conquer the challenges of casting.

You will direct the Opera Studio in Bregenztogether with Jaako Kortekangas, the new head of the artistic department of the Bregenzer Festspiele and former casting director of the Finish National Opera.

Jaako is a singer too, an internationally recognized baritone with a huge opera repertoire. We can look back on a long professional relationship – almost 40 years, not only on stage but also in artistic administration. Jaako and I have already shared the stage multiple times – and in La Cenerentola too. I played Angelina and he played Dandini.

What will young singers learn in the masterclass of the Opera Studio?

Ich freue mich sehr darauf, mit den Sänger:innen des Opernstudios an La Cenerentola zu arbeiten und ihnen zu helfen, ihre Rollen so zu gestalten, dass sie sich selbst und der Geschichte gerecht werden. Als Sänger:in hat man immer viele Menschen um sich herum: Korrepetitor:innen, Dirigent:innen, Regisseur:innen und sehr viele Kolleg:innen, die einen mit unendlich vielen Informationen konfrontieren. Um ein:e Künstler:in mit Persönlichkeit und Integrität zu werden, muss man lernen, eigene Stärken zu erkennen und an sich zu glauben. Und man muss lernen, wem man in seiner Entwicklung vertrauen kann: was ein guter Rat ist und was man besser ignorieren sollte.

When you cast candidates for the Opera Studio, what qualities are you looking for?

We start by choosing an opera that is suited for young singers and offers them a lot of learning opportunities. Then, we start casting for the roles. The singers should be well prepared and confident enough to fully express themselves during the rehearsals.

And Amy Lane, the director of La Cenerentola, also has preferences when it comes to the cast: We already had some good conversations about the different characters and about how we can create an exciting environment during the rehearsals. All in all, working with young singers is inspiring and rewarding: I am really looking forward to this exciting time in March 2025.