Jingjing Xu, mezzo-soprano
Christopher Knopp, piano

Urkuyö ja Aaria Festival presents the freshly crowned winner of the 2024 International Mirjam Helin Competition

Jingjing Xu is a Chinese mezzo-soprano born in 1999. She recently graduated with a Master’s degree from the Schulich School of Music at McGill University in Montreal, where she studied with Annamaria Popescu, Michael McMahon and Esther Gonthier. In 2022, at the age of 22, she made her debut in the title role of Handel’s Orlando with Opera McGill. In 2023, Xu won the Wirth Singing Prize. In addition to opera, Xu likes art singing. In the summer of 2023, she attended the Franz Schubert Institute. Her recent performances include the alto solo solo in Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle at a gala concert organized by the Société d’art vocal de Montréal.

Xu and Montreal pianist Christopher Knopp have worked together as a duo since 2021.

The Mirjam Helin Competition counts among the most prestigious competitions of its kind in the world. Mirjam Helin Competition has a reputation for being one of the leading international singing competitions, and many of its former prizewinners, such as Olaf Bär, Elīna Garanča, René Pape, Andrea Rost and Julia Lezhneva have later risen to the top of the world of singing. Designed for outstanding young singers, it is known for its high standard, exacting repertoire, superb prizes and prestigious jury.

The concert is held in cooperation with the Mirjam Helin Singing Competition organized by the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

Photos from Mirjam Helin Competition by Minna Hatinen

Espoo Cathedral
Kirkkopuisto 5, 02770 Espoo

Program

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