Topi Lehtipuu

Topi Lehtipuu (born 24 March 1971 in Brisbane, Australia) is a Finnish operatic tenor. He has sung a variety of roles from different periods, including the title role in Benjamin Britten's Albert Herring at the Finnish National Opera, several roles in Mozart operas, including Belmonte in Die Entführung aus dem Serail and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, both at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, and Ferrando in Così fan tutte at the 2006 Glyndebourne Festival.[1] He has also appeared in Handel's Ariodante (Paris Opera), as Hylas in Berlioz' Les Troyens (conducted by John Eliot Gardiner),[1] and the Creature in the 2019 world première of Mark Grey's Frankenstein at La Monnaie in Brussels.[2] He has worked with other well-known conductors, such as William Christie, Michel Corboz, René Jacobs, Simon Rattle, and Christophe Rousset.[1]

He has also sung concert repertoire including works by J. S. Bach, Monteverdi, Pärt, Rameau, Rautavaara, Schoenberg, and Stravinsky.[1]

Lehtipuu was the artistic director from 2010 to 2015 of the Turku Music Festival, and Joroinen Music Days (now the Joroinen Music Festival). From 2015 to 2018 he was director of the Helsinki Festival. He has improved his conducting abilities and was appointed Artistic Partner of the Kymi Sinfonietta, beginning in the 2023-2024 season.[2]

Lehtipuu received his musical education at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and has studied with Peter Lindroos, Howard Crook, and Elisabeth Werres.[1]

At the time of his studies, Lehtipuu was an integral member of the acclaimed Finnish progressive rock band Höyry-kone.[3]