Timo Riihonen, born in 1983, is one of the most interesting young basses to come from Finland in recent years. He has already sung in important opera houses and concert halls around the world, including Teatro alla Scala, Berlin Staatsoper, Zürich Opera House, Bayreuther Festspiele, Berlin Philharmonic, Moscow Philharmonic, Tonhalle Zürich etc.
He studied in his native Finland at the Sibelius-Academy and continued in the International Opera Studio in Zürich, after which he joined the ensemble of Deutsche Oper am Rhein in 2009 to start his professional career. From Düsseldorf Timo Riihonen moved to Opernhaus Kiel where he was offered the possibility to sing and developed his skills as an artist and singer. He got to know the core repertoire of an operatic bass and prepare himself for the future.
On stage he has performed in the following roles: Sarastro, Daland, King Mark, Fafner, Fasolt, Hunding, Il Commendatore, Rocco, Falstaff, Colline, Banquo, Gremin, Don Profondo, Marcel, Osmin and others.
In 2016 he made his debut at Bayreuth Festival. He will return to Bayreuth in 2017 and 2018.
Timo Riihonen has a passion for opera and chamber music a like. In recent years, he has been a regular guest in Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, performing with the best musicians in the world. For him, music is the story of all of us and it is a privilege to be a storyteller and a listener.
With an impressive stature of being nearly two meters tall, he towers over his colleagues and is an amazing figure on stage.