Maija Skille, Mezzo-soprano

Maija Skille made her international debut as BRADAMANTE/ALCINA in Santiago, Chile, in 2010. She sang 3rd LADY in Barry Kosky/Ensemble 1927’s award winning MAGIC FLUTE at Komische Oper in 2012/13 and MRS DOC in Bernstein’s A QUIET PLACE with Kent Nagano and Ensemble Modern in 2013 – a part she will do again in May 2017 with Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Nagano (DECCA recording and concerts). At the Norwegian Opera and Ballet she has sung 3rd LADY, MÉRCÈDES/CARMEN and FLORA/LA TRAVIATA. Her repertoire includes roles such as THE SORCERESS/DIDO & AENEAS, MRS LOVETT/SWEENEY TODD, POLINESSO/ARIODANTE, ZITA/GIANNI SCHICCHI, FIDALMA/IL MATRIMONIO SEGRETO, JESSIE/MAHAGONNY SONGSPIEL.

Skille is a sought-after oratorio soloist and has sung REQUIEM (Verdi, Duruflé, Mozart), MESSIAH (Händel), CHRISTMAS ORATORIO, EASTER ORATORIO, MAGNIFICAT, MASS IN B MINOR (Bach), STABAT MATER (Pergolesi, Vivaldi, Scarlatti) and PETITE MESSE SOLENNELLE (Rossini).

In 2015/16 Skille translated LA BOHÈME to Norwegian – a translation which has already been used by two opera companies. Some of her composition for choirs has also been published. Skille is the producer of two minor opera companies and is the voice teacher at North University’s Acting ‘and Theatre Department (NOR).

Her credits also include roles such as Polinesso in ARIODANTE, Mrs Lovett in SWEENEY TODD, Jessie in MAHAGONNY SONGSPIEL, Celia in Shakespeare's AS YOU LIKE IT (in Norwegian), Zita in GIANNI SCHICCHI, Fidalma in IL MATRIMONIO SEGRETO, Sorceress in DIDO AND AENEAS, Fru Inger Til Austraat in Sommero's OLAV ENGELBREKTSSON, Anette Kokkepike in Söderlinds I CANCELLIRAADENS DAGE, Riina in Rautavaara's THE HOUSE OF THE SUN and Amalia in Kuusisto's MIEHEN KYLKILUU.