Dates:
- Sun, 4 Oct 2026, 18:00–20:30
The second Aria Borealis International Baroque Singing Competition will take place in Helsinki in October 2026. Following the video pre-selection round, eight singers have been chosen to advance to the live rounds. They will compete in the chamber music semifinal on 2 October and the final on 4 October. Representing eight different countries and voice types ranging from coloratura soprano to bass-baritone, the finalists can be explored in more detail here: https://fibo.fi/en/etusivunuutiset/aria-borealis-competition-finalists/
The semi-staged final consist of a ‘pasticcio’ of Georg Friedrich Händel operas and oratorios titled The Transforming Fire, conceived by writer-director Aleksi Barrière and featuring many beloved arias from the master’s catalogue. The eight singers, for whom the pasticcio was specially crafted, will lend their voices to a montage of scenes showcasing Händel’s interest in the psychology of transformation, whether in the form of love, grief, or resilience. The detailed programme information for the final will be published here at a later date: https://fibo.fi/en/concerts/2026/aria-borealis_final/
The inaugural Aria Borealis competition, held in Bodø, Northern Norway, in 2022, was won by soprano Johanna Falkinger. Since her victory, she has appeared with leading figures in the early music world, including Jordi Savall and Christina Pluhar.
The Aria Borealis International Baroque Singing Competition, dedicated to singers specialising in early music, was created, developed and is jointly directed by the four ensembles of the Nordic Baroque Scene (NBS) network: Barokkanerne (Norway), Concerto Copenhagen (Denmark), the Drottningholm Baroque E...
Cost: 25–57 €
Bookings: Booking information is available from the event source.
Categories: concerts, music, cultural events
Source: Event information supplied by City of Helsinki Linked Events.
