Reader Submission: Waltteri Torikka

Waltteri Torikka (Photo by Kurt Rodahl Hoppe)

Our latest reader submission is Finnish baritone Waltteri Torikka, who is wrapping up a run as Don Giovanni at the Royal Danish Opera Academy today. Torikka won the Finnish national “Lappeenrannan laulukilpailut” song competition in 2010 and received the “HSBC Laureates” prize at the prestigious  Aix-en-Provence Festival in 2009. 

Torikka has performed with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra and Camerata Salzburg. In 2009, he made his debut at the Finnish National Opera as Herastuomari in Leevi Madetoja's “The Ostrobothnians.” Other roles he has performed include “Il Re di Scozia” in Handel's “Ariodante,” Vorotov in Ville Raasakka's “Kohtalokkaat Oppitunnit” and Masetto in Mozart's “Don Giovanni.” Next year, he is scheduled to appear at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. Torikka is apprentice artist in the Finnish National Opera 2012-13.

We'll be keeping an eye on this young talent.

CONTACT US AT Barihunks@gmail.com

Reader Submission: Sean Sullivan

Sean Sullivan

Our reader submissions continue with, Sean Sullivan who began singing at age nine with the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, and was subsequently invited to sing in the Children’s Chorus of the Los Angeles Opera, where he decided to pursue an opera career.

He made his solo operatic debut as Young Prince Hrothgar in the world premiere of Elliott Goldenthal’s Grendel at the Los Angeles Opera. He reprised this role in New York at The New York State Theater for the East Coast Premiere. Sean attended L.A. County High School for the Arts where he sang several roles including Mr. Peachum in Britten’s The Beggar’s Opera and Carl Olsen in Weill’s Street Scene. At CSUN, Sean played Antonio in Mozart’s Le Nozze de Figaro, David in Barber’s A Hand of Bridge and The Mysterious Man in Sondheim’s Into the Woods.

You can read an interview with Sean Sullivan HERE.

Sullivan can next be heard in an abbreviated concert version of Mozart's "Don Giovanni" at the Golden Gate Club in San Francisco on May 26 & 27. For reservations, call (415) 447-6274. Sullivan will perform Masetto opposite the Don Giovanni of his voice coach and fellow barihunk Eugene Brancoveanu.

Contact us at Barihunks@gmail.com