About
Martti Olavi Talvela was born on February 4, 1935, in Hiitola, Karelia. But his family did not live there for long, because as a result of the "Winter War" of 1939-1940, this part of Karelia became a closed border zone on the territory of the Soviet Union. The singer never managed to visit his native places again, although he visited Russia many times. In Moscow, he was heard in 1976, when he performed in a concert at the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Bolshoi Theater. Then, a year later, he came again, singing in the theater's performances of two monarchs - Boris and Philip.
Finland has given the world many singers, from the legendary Aino Ackte to the stellar Karita Mattila. But a Finnish singer is first and foremost a bass, the Finnish singing tradition from Kim Borg is passed down from generation to generation by basses. Against the Mediterranean "three tenors", Holland fielded three countertenors, while Finland fielded three basses: Matti Salminen, Jaakko Ryhanen and Johan Tilli recorded a similar disc together. In this chain of tradition, Martti Talvela is the golden link. A classic Finnish bass in appearance, voice type, repertoire, today, twelve years after his death, he is already a legend of Finnish opera.Talvela's first profession was as a teacher. By the will of fate, he received his teaching diploma in the city of Savonlinna, where in the future he was to sing a lot and for a long time head the largest opera festival in Scandinavia. His singing career began in 1960 with a victory at a competition in the city of Vasa. Having made his debut in Stockholm that same year as Sparafucile, Talvela sang there for two years at the Royal Opera, while continuing his studies.Martti Talvela's international career began rapidly - the Finnish giant immediately became an international sensation. In 1962 he performed in Bayreuth as Titurel - and Bayreuth became one of his main summer residences. In 1963 he was the Grand Inquisitor at La Scala, in 1965 - King Heinrich at the Vienna State Opera, in 1967 - Hunding in Salzburg, in 1968 - the Grand Inquisitor at the Met. From then on, for more than two decades, his main theaters were the Deutsche Oper and the Metropolitan Opera, and his main roles were Wagner's King Mark and Daland, Verdi's Filippo and Fiesco, Mozart's Sarastro.