Ruut Eleonoora Karhula is a Finnish lyric-dramatic mezzo-soprano known for her beautiful deep, powerful and versatile voice. She graduated in 2024 as a Master of Music in Opera Performance from the University of the Arts, Sibelius Academy (Helsinki), with the highest possible honors.

In season 2023 Ms. Karhula performed the main role role as Poppea in L’incoronazione di Poppea by Monteverdi.
Her other opera roles includes the following: Ariadne (Scheibe: Ariadne auf Naxos), Dido (Purcell: Dido and Aeneas), Suor Genovieffa, La suora infermiera and Una conversa (Puccini: Suor Angelica), Dritte Dame (Mozart: Die Zauberflöte), Damigella (Monteverdi: L'incoronazione di Poppea), Serafina (Donizetti: Il Campanello), Aino-Kaino (Pulkkis: Raatteen tie) and Leo (Kuusisto: Prinsessa ja villijoutsenet).

As a concert soloist she has performed the alto soloist parts in Weihnachtsoratorium by J. S. Bach together with the Finnish Baroque Orchestra FiBo and the Messiah Oratorium by G. F. Händel under the baton of Seppo Murto. A long waited Finnish premiere was being held in Autumn 2024 when Ms. Karhula premiered Ariadne in Ariadne auf Naxos by J. A. Scheibe. In addition to opera Ms. Karhula is an active Lied singer and pianist. She has especially delved into the Nordic lied repertoire, contemporary music and crossover classical. In 2024 Ms. Karhula was one of the semifinalists in Kangasniemi Singing Competition. She has also been selected as one of the competitors in Lappeenranta Singing Competition 2025 and Sibelius Singing competition in April 2025.

 

Karhula has also received lessons from  Peter Kooy, Soile Isokoski, Topi Lehtipuu, Martin Katz, Hartmut Höll, Andreas Schmidt and Angelika Kirchschlager among others and also has been working under the baton of Eric-Olof Söderström, Kurt Kopecky, Jaakko Kuusisto and Edward Ananian-Cooper to mention few.
 

Ms. Karhula's artistic work has been supported by the Selim Eskelin Foundation, the Sibelius Academy Foundation, Kauhajoki Cultural Foundation and Oopperakummit ry.

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Role repertoire

Ariadne (Scheibe: Ariadne auf Naxos)
Poppea (Monteverdi: L'incoronazione di Poppea)

Dido (Purcell: Dido and Aeneas)

Sesto (Händel: Giulio Cesare)
Cherubino (Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro)

Dritte Dame (Mozart: Die Zauberflöte)

Sefarina (Donizetti: Il Campanello)

Aino-Kaino (Pulkkis: Raatteentie)

Concert soloist
Alto (Händel: Messiah)
Alto (Bach: Weihnachtsoratorium)

Alto (Bach: Magnificat)

Alto (Pergolesi: Stabat Mater)

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Lied repertoire

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T. Kuula: Suutelo Op. 8/1
T. Kuula: Paimenet Op. 29a/3
T. Kuula: Sinipiika Op. 23/1
T. Kuula: Tuijotin tulehen kauan Op. 2/2

T. Kuula: Eteläpohjalaisia kansanlauluja

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J. Sibelius Op. 1

J. Sibelius Op. 36

J. Sibelius Op. 37

J. Sibelius Op. 88

J. Sibelius: JS 171 Skogsrået (the Wood Nymph)

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L. Madetoja

Yrtit tummat Op. 9 no 1

Hymyi Hypnos Op. 9 no 2
Tuulinen sää Op. 25 no 3
Kristallikukkia Op. 16 no 2
Talvinen tie Op. 25 no 2
Ilta Op. 60 no 3
Luulit ma katselin sua Op. 68 no 3
 

T. Pylkkänen Op. 21 (Kuoleman joutsen)

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A. Almila: Sade (2007)

I. Antola: Kolme laulua L. Onervan runoihin (2012)

C. Damström: Dagbok (2009-2013)

T. Kettunen: Muukalainen (2017)​
 

A. Berg: Sieben frühe Lieder

R. Strauss:
Zueignung Op. 10 no 1
Die Georgine Op. 10 no 4

Cäcilie Op. 27 no 2
Morgen Op. 27 no 4

H. Wolf
Schweig ́ einmal still (Italienisches Liederbuch)
Ich hab in Penna (Italienisches Liederbuch)

Nixe Binsefuss (Mörike-Lieder)
Agnes (Mörike-Lieder)
Nimmersatte Liebe (Mörike-Lieder)
Klinge, klinge mein pandero (Spanisches Liederbuch)

 

F. Schubert
Wanderers Nachtlied I 
Wanderers Nachtlied II 
Auf dem Wasser zu Singen op. 72, D.774
Gretchen am Spinnrade op.2, D.118
Die Mainacht D.194 
Ständchen D.957
 

C. Debussy: Trois chansons de Bilitis

G. Nystroem: Sånger vid havet
G. Nystroem: På reveln
 

K. Jeppsson: Kvinnosånger

 

B. Britten Op 41 (A Charm of Lullabies)

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W. Bolcom
Song of Black Max (Cabaret Songs)

George (Cabaret Songs)

Amor (Cabaret Songs)

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M. Ravel: 2 Melodies hebraiques

 

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