The international Aria Borealis Baroque Singing Competition was held at Musiikkitalo in Helsinki on 2 October (the chamber-music semi-final) and 4 October (the semi-staged final). All singers selected for the live rounds were already winners and received a prize. Additional prizes were awarded after the final. The jury awarded first place to Swedish soprano Josefine Mindus.
€ 1,000 for each singer selected for the live rounds
Mari Aschehoug, soprano (Norway)
Lucija Ercegovac, mezzo-soprano (Croatia)
Martin Höhler, tenor (Germany)
Josefine Mindus, soprano (Sweden)
Antonia Ortner, soprano (Austria)
Virgile Pellerin, countertenor (France)
Maija Rautasuo, soprano (Finland)
Lucas Zuehl, bass-baritone (United States)
Audience Favourite
Maija Rautasuo (Finland)
Jury Prizes
1. Josefine Mindus (Sweden)
2. Antonia Ortner (Austria) and Maija Rautasuo (Finland)
Maija Rautasuo, Josefine Mindus and Antonia Ortner. Photo: Tuomas Tenkanen.
In addition, the baroque orchestras — Barokkanerne (Norway), the Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble (Sweden), Floridante (Estonia), and the Finnish Baroque Orchestra — and the RIAS Chamber Choir (Germany) selected a favourite singer to perform with them. Their choices will be announced later.
Lucas Zuehl, Maija Rautasuo, Antonia Ortner, Josefine Mindus, Mari Aschehoug, Virgile Pellerin, Lucija Ercegovac and Martin Höhler. Photo: Tuomas Tenkanen.
Yle Radio 1 recorded the final and will broadcast it on 9 October at 7.02 pm, when it will also become available on Yle Areena. The concert can also be listened to abroad.