Biography

Tessan-Maria Lehmussaari is a young Finnish/Swedish soprano from Stockholm.

Forthcoming and current appearances include Elsalill in Nordahl’s Herr Arnes Pennigar at Folkoperan, Stockholm, and Klara in the new children's opera by Andrea Tarrodi, Vilse, at the Royal Swedish Opera.

She has recently performed Witch and Dama in Verdi’s Macbeth for Läckö Slott Opera, Miss Jessel in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw and soprano solo in puppet opera performance Provsjungningen, both for Folkoperan Stockholm, Despina in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte with for Uppsala Stadsteater (co-production with Folkoperan Stockholm), and Christmas concerts with Young Opera at the Royal Swedish Opera.

Also ecently she has appeared as Dorine in Mechem’s Tartuffe at Norrlandsoperan, soprano soloist in a staged, orchestrated version of Schumann’s Dichterliebe for Folkoperan, soprano solo in Johannes Pollak’s De som kom över havet for Estrad Norr, and soprano solo in two concerts celebrating female opera composers through the ages, Hela Historian (The Whole Story), at the historical Confidencen Theatre in Stockholm.

She was recently the recipient of the 2020 Jenny Lind Stipend from the Royal Swedish Music Academy, winning the award on the 200th anniversary of the Swedish Nightingale’s birth date. As part of the prize she undertook a recital tour of the USA and Sweden in the Summer of 2022.

Other recent appearances include Angelica in Royal Swedish Opera’s young performers’ version of Handel’s Orlando at Confidencen in Stockholm, and Frasquita Carmen with Lyriska Sällskapet in Gävle.

Her interest in opera was born when she, as an eleven year-old, sung in the children’s choir in the Royal Swedish Opera’s production of Cavalleria Rusticana/I Pagliacci. From that point on it was clear that opera would become her future profession.

Tessan-Maria has this year completed her studies at the University College of Opera in Stockholm, where she has been taught by the Royal Court Singer Anita Soldh.

During her studies she has performed roles such as Amor Orfeo ed Euridice, Gretel Hänsel und Gretel. During the same time, outside of college, she has been seen as Adele Die Fledermaus and Giulietta I Capuleti e i Montecchi for Södertälje Opera, and Zerlina Don Giovanni for Parkteatern in Stockholm.

She has, amongst others, worked with Drottningholm’s Baroque Orchestra, The Swedish Royal Opera Orchestra, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Rebaroque, and Oulu Sinfonia.

On the concert platform Tessan-Maria has sung J.S.Bach’s Magnificat, Lars-Erik Larsson’s Förklädd Gud, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Magnificat, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, and Meinardus’ Luther in Worms.

She has gratefully received grants from the Drottningholm Theatre Ingrid & Oscar Falkman Fund (2019), and the Lisbeth Håkansson Memorial Fund (2018).

In 2018 she won the Public Prize in the Havet’s Röst Singing Competition on the Finnish island of Åland.

Website: https://www.tessan-maria.com/

Reviews

“…an absolutely special charisma.”

Some of the singers have an absolutely special charisma, such as soprano Tessan-Maria Lehmussaari…who possesses a God-given diction and presence.

— Expressen newspaper

“Tessan-Maria Lehmussaari as Angelika…superb”

Orlando is well worth seeing. The music is top-class, and the singers are superb (especially Tessan-Maria Lehmussaari as Angelica and Therese Ahlbeck as Dorinda).

— kollat.se

Artist Manager:
Stephen Svanholm
+46 738 777 631
stephen@svanholmartists.com

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