<![CDATA[Aino Konkka Mezzo-soprano - News]]>Tue, 20 May 2025 02:17:47 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Iolanthe in Charlbury on Sat 18 June]]>Thu, 09 Jun 2022 18:11:32 GMThttp://www.ainokonkka.com/news/iolanthe-in-charlbury-on-sat-18-juneI am very pleased to be appearing with Shoestring Opera as Iolanthe in Gilbert and Sullivan's Iolanthe. First operatic adventure since the pandemic! The show opened on 5th June in Royal Wootton Bassett, and there is one more show left on Sat 18 June at 3.30pm at St Mary's Church, Charlbury. This is a walking distance from Charlbury station so very easy to get to!

I had some lovely feedback from a respected singing teacher who sat in the audience last week: 'Most of all I wanted to share how much I enjoyed Iolanthe herself as a singer, what a treat to hear such a lovely contralto (I know we don’t use that word any more)  but it was such a rich and soothing sound to the ear - like fine chocolate I thought. I was thinking that I haven’t heard a voice like that for ages.' Thank you for your kind words!
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]]><![CDATA[Schumann recital 8 September 2018 11am]]>Tue, 21 Aug 2018 21:56:42 GMThttp://www.ainokonkka.com/news/schumann-recital-8-september-2018-11am
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Welcome to my next recital with Maya Soltan! Schumann's Liederkreis Op. 39 will be interspersed with movements from the solo piano piece Kreisleriana Op. 16. 

Liederkreis Op. 39 to Eichendorff's texts was composed in 1840, and includes some of the most beautiful music ever written, such as the ethereal 'Mondnacht'. Schumann wrote: 'The Eichendorff cycle is my most Romantic music ever, and contains much of you in it, dear Clara.' Robert and Clara married on 12 September 1840, so this recital will mark almost exactly 178 years since their wedding day.

Kreisleriana Op. 16 was composed in 1838 in four days and revised in 1850. Robert wrote to Clara: 'I'm overflowing with music and beautiful melodies now – imagine, since my last letter I've finished another whole notebook of new pieces. I intend to call it Kreisleriana. You and one of your ideas play the main role in it, and I want to dedicate it to you – yes, to you and nobody else – and then you will smile so sweetly when you discover yourself in it.'
]]><![CDATA[Liederkreis Op. 39]]>Fri, 29 Jun 2018 21:03:50 GMThttp://www.ainokonkka.com/news/liederkreis-op-39My next song recital will feature Robert Schumann's atmospheric and mysterious Liederkreis Op. 39 at St Botolph's Aldgate. Welcome!
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]]><![CDATA[Mailing list]]>Tue, 16 Jan 2018 13:23:33 GMThttp://www.ainokonkka.com/news/mailing-listThis New Year I have decided to start a mailing list so I can let you know directly about any news or upcoming performances. Please send me a message via my Contact page if you would like to subscribe. Many thanks!]]><![CDATA[Cenerentola in Chippenham]]>Sat, 30 Dec 2017 11:15:40 GMThttp://www.ainokonkka.com/news/cenerentola-in-chippenhamI'm looking forward to appearing as Cenerentola with Shoestring Opera in Chippenham on Saturday 6th January 2018 at 5pm. Crazy runs and fairytale romance - welcome!
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]]><![CDATA[Carmen with Lambeth Orchestra]]>Sun, 18 Jun 2017 21:27:59 GMThttp://www.ainokonkka.com/news/carmen-with-lambeth-orchestraI am thrilled to be appearing with Lambeth Orchestra on Saturday 1st July in their concert performance of Carmen. I will be singing the role of Mercedes together with great soloists including Aurore Lacabe as Carmen.
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]]><![CDATA[Ecco Monteverdi!]]>Sun, 11 Jun 2017 19:38:20 GMThttp://www.ainokonkka.com/news/ecco-monteverdiI am very excited to be appearing again with Barefoot Opera in a staged production of Monteverdi Madrigals in St Leonards on Sea on 17th June. The choir Cantemus will begin the celebration of Monteverdi's 450th anniversary with a programme of Josquin and Ingenieri, followed by Monteverdi madrigals performed by Barefoot Opera. The programme includes the famous Arianna's Lament.
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]]><![CDATA[On The Edge of Water - Romantic Songs]]>Tue, 27 Dec 2016 14:04:38 GMThttp://www.ainokonkka.com/news/on-the-edge-of-water-romantic-songsMy next recital at St Alfege Church, Greenwich, will be a new collaboration with pianist Maya Soltan. We will perform romantic songs themed on water and swans by Edvard Grieg, songs from Edward Elgar's Sea Pictures, and by the Finnish composers Toivo Kuula and Tauno Pylkkänen. 
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]]><![CDATA[Deep in the Forest at St George the Martyr]]>Sat, 09 Jul 2016 10:31:08 GMThttp://www.ainokonkka.com/news/deep-in-the-forest-at-st-george-the-martyrI am repeating my Deep in the Forest recital programme with pianist Richard Black at St George the Martyr, Borough High Street, on Thursday 14th July at 1pm. These magical songs inspired by Finland's nature and landscape are well worth hearing!
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]]><![CDATA[Songs from the words of Shakespeare]]>Thu, 26 May 2016 10:45:42 GMThttp://www.ainokonkka.com/news/songs-from-the-words-of-shakespeareTo commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, Aino will perform a Shakespeare-themed song recital with baritone Crispin Lewis and pianist Raymond Lewis at Burgh House, Hampstead, on 12th June 2016. 

Aino will sing songs by Thomas Arne (1710-1778), Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), Franz Schubert (1797-1828) and Einojuhani Rautavaara (b. 1928), one of Finland's most prominent composers.
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