Sanna Iljin began her 2022/2023 season as Pamina at the Finnish National Opera in the famous production of DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE of the Komische Oper Berlin. She will return to the FNO as Zerlina in DON GIOVANNI and as Constance in DIALOGUES DES CARMÉLITES under the baton of the chief conductor Hannu Lintu in season 2023/2024. Her previous roles at FNO includes Valencienne in DIE LUSTIGE WITWE and Zerlina in DON GIOVANNI under the baton of Patrick Fournillier.

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In the 2021/2022 season at FNO Ms. Iljin performed the main role as Christine Daaé of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA with great success. Summer 2022 Ms. Iljin sang the main role of the new opera by Jukka Linkola HILJAISET PERIVÄT MAAN at Ilmajoki Music Festival. The critics were laudatory, and Ms. Iljin got praised by her touching performance as Regina Holberg.

Summer 2017 Ms. Iljin won a prestigious Timo Mustakallio Singing Competition in Savonlinna Opera Festival. The artistic director of Savonlinna Opera Festival Ville Matvejeff invited Ms. Iljin to sing the part of Frasquita in CARMEN at Jyväskylä Opera in season 2017/2018, where she sang her professional opera debut.

 

Summer 2018 Ms. Iljin was a prize winner in Kangasniemi Singing Competition. The chairman of the jury was conductor Mikko Franck, who invited her to sing at his Kangasniemi Music Festival’s opening concert in summer 2019 together with Matti Salminen and Kuopio Symphony Orchestra, with Maestro Franck at the helm.

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Ms. Iljin was invited by Maestro Hannu Lintu to sing Exsultate, jubilate by Mozart with Estonia Radio Symphony Orchestra in 2022 under Lintu’s baton, and the concert was internationally broadcasted. Maestro Jukka-Pekka Saraste invited Ms. Iljin to sing the part of Mater Gloriosa in Mahler's 8th symphony (under Saraste’s baton) in the season 2023/2024 with Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.

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Before her classical vocal studies Ms. Iljin performed as a classical concert pianist around the world in e.g., Japan, Germany, and Finland. Ms. Iljin started her vocal studies in 2016 at Helsinki Conservatory.  In 2021 she earned her Master of Arts degree at the Sibelius Academy of the Univeristy of the Arts.

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Ms. Iljin has received grants from the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Finnish Music Foundation, and the Art Promotion Centre Finland. Ms. Iljin was awarded a grant by the Opera and Ballet Foundation in 2021 as a promising young singer.