Soprano Sanna Iljin sang her first main role at the Finnish National Opera in Autumn 2021 as Christine Daaé in the Phantom of the Opera (Webber). Her previous roles at the FNO include Valencienne from Die lustige Witwe (Lehár) and Zerlina from Don Giovanni (Mozart).

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Sanna Iljin sang her professional opera debut as Frasquita from Bizet’s Carmen at the Jyväskylä Opera conducted by Ville Matvejeff in 2017. Iljin has also performed as a soloist under the baton of Mikko Franck, Patrick Fournillier and Sakari Oramo.

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Iljin started her vocal studies in 2016 with Hanna-Leena Haapamäki, Johanna Rusanen and Irina Gavrilovici.

 

Before starting her vocal studies Iljin was known as a classical pianist. She studied piano at the Sibelius Academy University of the Arts Helsinki and at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Germany.

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Iljin has performed as a piano soloist with e.g., Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Radio Symphony Orchestra and in several music festivals such as Musikfest Berlin, Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival and Turku Music Festival.

 

Sanna Iljin is a prizewinner of several singing competitions e.g., of the Timo Mustakallio Singing Competition in 2017 and of the Kangasniemi Singing Competition in 2018. She has also been awarded grants from the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Art Promotion Centre Finland and the Opera and Ballet foundation in 2021.