| Riikka Hakola’s career took off at young age after the successful debut at The Finnish National Opera as Lucia di Lammermoor in 1990. Since that, she has been invited back as Traviata, Chiang Ching, Adina, Rosina, Rosalinde, Donna Anna, Micaela, Fiordiligi, Anna Bolena and Arabella. Her international career includes several guest appearances at major opera-houses around Europe as well as in America and Asia. One of Riikka’s most loved roles has been Violetta in La Traviata, which she has performed in 10 houses including Stockholm and Copenhagen Royal Operas, Oslo National Opera and Bolshoi in Moscow. Donna Anna she has performed also at Bonn Opera, Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Dusseldorf, and in the USA with Baltimore and Washington Opera companies. 2002 she was invited to The Metropolitan Opera Company as Natasha in War and Peace (covering Anna Netrebko). Riikka Hakola has performed with many of world’s famous conducters and sung together with famous stars such as Placido Domingo. Her operatic repertoire encompasses more than 45 major roles. Her appearances as a soloist with orchestras and her recitals with piano accompaniment have been widely respected in festivals and concert-houses around the world from London to Rio de Janeiro in. She can also been seen in films such as Mahagonny (Jenny) and Orpheus in the Underworld (Eurydike). She has performed several world premiers by contemporary composers many of which were specially composed for her voice. "Hakola has a beautiful voice, wonderful italian, exeptional acting talents, deep understanding of her roles, and (although not the most important) beautiful looks..." (La Traviata/Opera Web rewiew, ) "La Hakola is a superb actress with an exellent singing technique and breath control..." (Anna Bolena/Opera Web 9.1.1999) "In Riikka Hakola Finnish National Opera have a fine, emotional soprano... the sensitive Hakola seized this opportunity with the trembling hands of a suitably doomed diva." (Anna Bolena/Opera Now 3.4.1999/Adrian Mourby) "Artiste exeptionelle, Riikka Hakola n'a pas uniquement une jolie voix, elle a un don d'interprétation rare, qui a permis a l'assistance de partager sés émotions..." (Lea Strasunas, Festival de L'ete Mosan) "Riikka Hakola is an extreamly fine singer and combines musical singing with thoughtful acting. Her voice had a sharp finish and she shined with strenght and nobility..." (Donna Anna, Opera Web review/Frank Braccia) "Bravos et applaudissements pour une divine diva!...une diva dubleé d'une exellente comédienne..." (Recital at Festival Al-Bustan, L'Orient Le Jour 3.3.2005/Edgar Davidian) |