Aarne Pelkonen (b. 1986) is a Finnish baritone and one of the most in-demand opera and concert singers of his generation. He won the Lappeenranta Singing Competition in 2013 and the International Jean Sibelius Singing Competition in 2015, trained at the Sibelius Academy and with Thomas Quasthoff in Berlin, and held a soloist position at the Oldenburg Opera in Germany (2015-2017). Since his 2019 debut at the Finnish National Opera in the lead role of Jaakko Kuusisto's opera Jää, he has been a regular guest there, while also maintaining an active lied career alongside pianist Juho Alakärppä.
Pelkonen released the album Hymyilevä Apollo with pianist and composer Iiro Rantala in April 2026, marking the first complete recording of Eino Leino's poem set to music.
Pelkonen appeared in the Finnish TV singing competition Tähdet tähdet on Nelonen channel starting April 2026.
Pelkonen serves as artistic director of the Rauma Festivo festival in August 2026.
The album Schubert: Winterreise (2025), recorded with pianist Juho Alakärppä on a period fortepiano from 1828, received critical acclaim; Yle's Risto Nordell described it as a landmark in Finnish lied.
The Winterreise recording is believed to be the first Finnish recording of the Schubert cycle performed on a period fortepiano.
concert18:00Baritone Aarne Pelkonen performs a selection of his most beautiful songs accompanied by pianist Juho Alakärppä and guitarist-pianist Marzi Nyman.
concert18:00Baritone Aarne Pelkonen performs his most beloved songs alongside pianist Juho Alakärppä and guitarist-pianist Marzi Nyman, ranging from classical to light entertainment music.
