Biography

Finnish Erik Rousi is known for his powerful, yet at the same time beautiful bass voice. He has a wide repertoire ranging from baroque and Lieder to heavy German operatic literature. Erik’s vocal technique has been hailed as “sovereign” and “accomplished,” while his interpretations have received praise as “extremely strong” and “filling the room with energy and warmth”.

During the season 2024 / 2025 Rousi can be heard at Oper Wuppertal in roles such as Sir John Falstaff in Nicolai’s Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Mephistopélès in Gounod’s Faust, George Bunting in Tate’s The Lodger,  and Il Commendatore in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. 

The 2023-24 season saw him sing König Marke in Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, Sir John Falstaff in Nicolai’s Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, and Peter in Smyth’s Der Wald, all for Oper Wuppertal. Also, in concert, Hunding in Wagner’s Die Walküre with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra in Riga.

Rousi’s performed operatic repertoire includes Rocco Fidelio), Raimondo Lucia di Lammermoor, Melisso Alcina, Priest Fotis in Martinů’s The Greek Passion, Le Roi Cendrillon, Nettuno in Monteverdi’s Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria, Caronte L’Orfeo, Colas Bastien und Bastienne, Publio La clemenza di Tito, Don Alfonso Così fan tutte, Il Commendatore Don Giovanni, Figaro Le nozze di Figaro, Scarpia Tosca, Lautsprecher Der Kaiser von Atlantis, Filippo II Don Carlo, Sparafucile Rigoletto, Amfortas Parsifal, Daland Der fliegende Holländer, Der Wanderer Siegfried, Wotan Das Rheingold, Wotan Die Walküre and Kaspar Der Freischütz.

Erik Rousi is also a concert singer and frequent interpreter of lieder, with his focus on the great cycles of F. Schubert, which he has performed on numerous occasions all around Europe. During the season 2023-24 Rousi’s concert repertoire includes Amore Traditore (J.S.Bach), Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen (J.S.Bach), Ein deutsches Requiem (Brahms), and the song cycles Die schöne Müllerin, Winterreise and Schwanengesang by Schubert.

Between 2023 and 2026 leading Finnish record label Alba Records publishes all the major song cycles of Schubert, recorded by Erik Rousi and his longtime pianist partner Justas Stasevskij. The first of the CDs, Die schöne Müllerin, was released in March 2023 to great critical acclaim.

Despite his young age, Mr. Rousi had already a change of working with some wonderful artists, such as Dmitry Bertman, Giuseppe Finzi, Christian von Götz, Hinrich Horstkotte, Dietrich Hilsdorf, Phillipp Kochheim, Peter Konwitchny, Gustav Kuhn, Niels Muus, Tarmo Peltokoski and Ariel Zuckermann, to name a few.

Rousi studied at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna under the guidance of Prof. KS. Angelika Kirchschlager and at the Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences with Prof. Seppo Ruohonen and Prof. Marjut Hannula.

Reviews

“…warm, dark and yet rich…”

With Rousi it sounds dark and pithy right from the start…Rousi unfolds his warm, dark and yet rich sounding bass ... A great delight, what the happy Finn is producing here."

Ralf Döring, NOZ, 20.4.2023

“…his voice is so free and rich.”

Vocal technique does not pose any problems for Rousi, his voice is so free and rich. Because of his confident technique, Rousi can color his voice soft or strong in all registers. The high register is perfect for Schubert and the deep part of the voice resonates like a cellar. (F. Schubert: Winterreise)

— Matti Lehtonen, Laulumusiikin ystävät (Friends of Vocal Music), June 20, 2019

“…Erik Rousi's bass-baritone is unique in its beauty”

Erik Rousi's bass-baritone is unique in its beauty, and the size of the instrument and its resonance are growing even further. One is able to sense even a bit of Nicolai Ghiaurov in his voice. 

— Matti Lehtonen, Wagneriaani, 26.7.2022

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