Melis Jaatinen

Ensemble: (Former) Finnish National Opera

Freelancer: Royal Danish Opera, Savonlinna Opera Festival, Norrlandsoperan, Norwegian National Opera

Finnish-Turkish mezzo-soprano Melis Jaatinen has established a versatile freelance career across the Nordic region, appearing at the Royal Danish Opera, Finnish National Opera, Norwegian National Opera, and Norrlandsoperan. She has performed with orchestras including the Oslo Philharmonic, Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, and Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra. A committed interpreter of contemporary and chamber music, she frequently collaborates with living composers to create new vocal repertoire.

Ms. Jaatinen holds a Master of Music from the Sibelius Academy, where she studied with Marjut Hannula. She also trained at the Norwegian Academy of Music and studied musicology at the University of Oslo. Her vocal development has been further shaped by Brian Jauhiainen and Paul Farrington.

Recent operatic highlights include the role of Hannah after in Laura Kaminsky’s As One at the Satakunta Music Festival (2022), Kay in Hans Abrahamsen’s Snedronningen (The Snow Queen) at the Royal Danish Opera (2019), and Polina in Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades at the Savonlinna Opera Festival (2018). She has also performed in We – an unknown opera by Bach? at Norrlandsoperan, and in world premieres including Anna Thorvaldsdottir’s UR (2015–2016), Olli Kortekangas’ VIA (2017), and Gisle Kverndokk’s Syngende natt (2024). Earlier engagements include roles with the Norwegian National Opera, Opera Sør, Theater Trier, and Helsinki Contemporary Opera.

From 2010 to 2012, Ms. Jaatinen was a soloist trainee at the Finnish National Opera, performing roles such as Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro), Sesto (Giulio Cesare), Mercedes (Carmen), Nancy (Albert Herring), and Zara in the world premiere of Jüri Reinvere’s The Purge. She later returned to the company for additional performances, including La traviata and Robin Hood.

Ms. Jaatinen has appeared as alto soloist in Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the Oslo Philharmonic and Trondheim Symphony Orchestra (2023–2024), and in major oratorios including Bach’s B-minor Mass, Mozart’s Requiem, and Handel’s Messiah. She has performed at the Oxford Lieder Festival, Oslo Opera Festival, Bard Music Festival, and Musashino Civic Cultural Hall in Tokyo.

Her debut album Impressions du Nord (2022), featuring Nordic art songs with pianist Juho Alakärppä, received critical acclaim. Other recordings include works by Sibelius, Grieg, Stravinsky, and Pylkkänen. She was a finalist in the Wigmore Hall Song Competition in 2013.