One of the most exciting lyric sopranos to emerge in the past decade, Karita Mattila is now hailed for both her Mozart and Wagner. Mattila sprang to international attention when she won the Cardiff Singer Of The World competition in 1983. Major repertoire was hinted at in her competition singing, but Mattila confounded her first fans by sticking to Mozart for several years. As she has often said in interviews, she knew the direction her voice would go (the lyric-dramatic repertoire) but she was also aware of the need for a rock-solid foundation in the greatest medicine for the voice, Mozart.

Mattila is a graduate of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finalnd's acclaimed national music conservatory. She studied there with Liisa Linko-Malmo and continued her studies in London with the legendary Vera Rozsa.

Mattila in recent seasons has broadened her repertoire to encompass Janacek, Puccini, Tchaikovsky, Verdi Beethoven and Strauss. Her new roles are anticipated eagerly by opera lovers. She is regarded as the finest eagerly by opera lovers. She is regarded as the finest Chrysothemis in Strauss' Elektra and has only recently added a towering interpretation of Lenora in Beethoven's Fidelio. Throughout this growth in her vocal range and power Mattila has been true to her Mozart roots and plans to keep this foundation throughout her career.