Pirjo Jonas

Joined the Vanemuine Theatre in 2010

Born
08.07.1980

Pirjo Jonas has been a soloist at the Vanemuine since the 2010/11 season. She obtained her master’s degree in opera singing at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2009 in the class of senior lecturer Nadja Kurem. She also holds a degree in English language and literature from the University of Tartu. Jonas has been widely performing in concert in Estonia as well as abroad; she has been a soloist in many largescale vocal works and appeared on stage both at the Estonian National Opera and the Vanemuine. Jonas has soloed in the performances of several oratorical works and also regularly performs chamber music. She has cooperated with renowned conductors such as Nikolay Alekseyev, Daniel Reuss, Normunds Vaicis, Ari Angervo, Anu Tali, Toomas Siitan, Lauri Sirp, Risto Joost, Jüri Alperten, Erki Pehk, Mihkel Kütson, Paul Mägi et al.

Roles in the Vanemuine
Cleopatra – Händel’s Julius Caesar (2023), Roxane – Tamberg’s Cyrano de Bergerac (2023), Linda – Kaumann’s The Mall (2022), Maia – Varres’s The New Old Nick of Hellsbottom (2022), Donna Anna – Mozart’s Don Giovanni (2021), Linda – Donizetti’s Linda di Chamounix (2021), Soloist – Evening with Lehár (2020), Actress – W (2019), Johanna Barker – Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd (2018), Pepi Pleininger – Strauss’s Viennese Blood (2018), Juta – Aints’s Googlemoogledotcom (2017), Woman – Lill’s Into the Fire (2017), Madame Herz – Mozart’s The Impresario (2016), Frasquita – Bizet’s Carmen (2015), Carlotta Giudicelli – Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera (2014), Sophie – Massenet’s Werther (2012), Susanna – Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro (2010), 1st soprano, Titania – Purcell’s The Fairy Queen (2011), Cupid – Offenbach’s Orphée aux enfers (2010), Damon – Händel’s Acis and Galatea (2006) etc.

Other roles
At the Estonian National Opera: Madeleine – Abraham’s Ball im Savoy, Oscar – Verdi’s Un ballo in Maschera, Anastasia von Eggenberg – Kálmán’s Die Csárdásfürstin.

Recognition
In 2011, Jonas received an award for her portrayal of Susanna from the Estonian Theatre Union as a promising young singer. She is a finalist of the 7th Klaudia Taev Competition for Young Opera Singers where she was awarded a special prize for her performance of Schubert’s Ave Maria. In 2011, Jonas also received the Bayreuth Scholarship from the Estonian branch of the International Richard Wagner Association.