# Matti Salminen, bass > Matti Salminen, bass – 13 recordings on Ondine. Matti Salminen is one of the leading basses of our time. Born in Turku (Finland) in 1945, he was educated in… Source: https://ondine.eyelabel.com/artists/salminen-matti - **Role:** bass - **Photo:** © Heikki Tuuli/Ondine ## Biography Matti Salminen is one of the leading basses of our time. Born in Turku (Finland) in 1945, he was educated in his home town, at the Sibelius Academy Helsinki, as well as in Italy and Germany. From 1972-1980 he was engaged at the Cologne opera. In 1972 he appeared for the first time as a guest in Zurich as Sarastro. Following his Gremin with Götz Friedrich and Gerd Albrecht at the beginning of Drese's era, Matti Salminen regularly returns to Zurich as a guest and has been an ensemble member since 1984-85. Matti Salminen appeared regularly at the Bayreuth Festival from 1976-1988 and at the Savonlinna Festival from 1967-1998. Apart from that, he is a guest at all important opera houses all over the world. In 2000, he sang the title role of Aulis Sallinen's opera Lear in Helsinki and in 2003 sang the title part in Rasputin by Einojuhani Rautavaara. In 2005, Matti Salminen was Gurnemanz in a new Parsifal staging by Harry Kupfer. Further engagements include Parsifal and Tristan in Vienna, Fidelio, Parsifal, Don Carlo and Die Meistersinger at the Bavarian State Opera Munich, Fidelio in Helsinki and Valencia as well as Don Carlo in Zurich and Vienna. ## Discography on Ondine (13) - [Aulis Sallinen: Highlights · 90th Anniversary Album](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1490-2.md): Jyväskylä Sinfonia, Ville Matvejeff · Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Okko Kamu · Tapiola Sinfonietta, Osmo Vänskä · Finnish National Opera Orchestra, Ulf Söderblom (ODE 1490-2, 2025) - [Finland 100: A Century of Finnish Classics · 5 CD collection celebrating 100 years of Finland's independence · Orchestral Works I & II · Concertos · Vocal Works · Chamber Music](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1300-2q.md): Various Finnish artist, orchestras and conductors (ODE 1300-2Q, 2016) - [Aulis Sallinen: King Lear · Opera in Two Acts · DVD video](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/odv-4010.md): Matti Salminen · Lilli Paasikivi, Taina Piira, Satu Vihavainen, Jorma Hynninen, Sauli Tiilikainen, Jorma Silvasti, Aki alamikkotervo, Hannu Forsberg (ODV 4010, 2015) - [Aulis Sallinen: Kullervo - Opera in Two Acts](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1258-2t.md): Jorma Hynninen, kullervo · Eeva-Liisa Saarinen, mother · Matti Salminen, kalervo · Jorma Silvasti, kimmo · Finnish National Opera Chorus · Finnish National Opera Orchestra · Ulf Söderblom, conductor · (Previously released as ODE 780-3T) (ODE 1258-2T, 2014) - [Matti Salminen: Elämäni lauluja. A Finnish Songbook](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1135-2.md): Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra · John Storgårds, conductor (ODE 1135-2, 2008) - [Malmsténin Aapinen. Rakkaimmat lastenlaulut: (Children Songs by Georg Malmstén)](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1119-2.md): Matti Salminen, vocalist · Eija Ahvo, vocalist · Thelma Romu, vocalist · Kameleonttikuoro · Tapiola Sinfonietta · Jyri Nissilä, conductor (ODE 1119-2, 2008) - [Sulle kauneimmat lauluni laulan: Serenades and Love Songs](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1069-2.md): YL Male Voice Choir · Matti Salminen, bass · Matti Hyökki, conductor (ODE 1069-2, 2005) - [Einojuhani Rautavaara: Rasputin - Opera in Three Acts](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/odv-4003.md): Matti Salminen, rasputin · Lilli Paasikivi, Tsarina Alix · Jorma Hynninen, Tsar Nicholas · Jyrki Anttila, Felix Yusupov · Finnish National Opera Orchestra · Finnish National Opera Chorus · Mikko Franck, conductor (ODV 4003, 2005) - [Matti Salminen: Uralin pihlaja. Slaavilaisia romansseja (Slavic Romances)](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-981-2.md): Matti Salminen, bass · Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · Riku Niemi, conductor (ODE 981-2, 2001) - [Jouluyö, juhlayö. Savonlinnan Oopperajuhlien joulu](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-814-2.md): Matti Salminen · Savonlinna Opera Festival Chorus · Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · Kyösti Haatanen, conductor (ODE 814-2, 1993) - [Joulun tähdet. Star Christmas: featuring Karita Mattila · Soile Isokoski · Lilli Paasikivi · Johanna Rusanen-Kartano · Jorma Hynninen · Matti Salminen](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1138-2.md): Pertti Pekkanen, conductor · Lilli Paasikivi, mezzo-soprano · Soile Isokoski, soprano · Tapiola Choir · Matti Hyökki, conductor · Turku Philharmonic Orchestra · Matti Salminen, bass · Helsinki Chamber Choir · Timo Nuoranne, conductor · YL Male Voice Choir · Kyösti Haatanen, conductor · Jorma Panula, conductor · Ulf Söderblom, conductor · Jyväskylä Sinfonia · Jorma Hynninen, baritone · The Musica Choir of Jyväskylä · Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra · Chorus Cathedralis Aboensis · Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · Karita Mattila, soprano · Savonlinna Opera Festival Choir · Erkki Pohjola, conductor · Johanna Rusanen-Kartano, soprano (ODE 1138-2, 2008) - [Iloinen joulu](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-993-2.md): Tapiola Choir · Various choirs, orchestras and conductors (ODE 993-2, 2001) - [Kauneimmat joululaulut. Christmas Carols](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-948-2.md): Various Artists (ODE 948-2, 1999) ## Links - [Operabase](http://www.operabase.com/listart.cgi?name=Matti+Salminen&loose=E&acts=+Schedule+)