Since completing her studies at the Conservatoire Superieure in Paris, Finnish mezzo-soprano Katherine Haataja, artistic director and founder of the Operosa festival, has had an exciting international opera career. Her work has been mostly based on the works of Handel and Mozart, as well as Wagner and Strauss, with performances in France, Finland, Sweden, Ireland, Italy, and the United Kingdom at various festivals, Queen Elisabeth Hall, and Royal Albert Hall in London.
During her stay in Bulgaria, she was invited to perform at the Sofia National Theatre, the "Ivan Vazov" theatre, and the National Palace of Culture. Katherine has introduced a wider audience to the work of the Operosa Festival and her own artistic work through a CD recorded in collaboration with the Sofia Philharmonic, featuring a selection of opera arias from her repertoire.
Katherine is a recognized performer of solo songs and has had the opportunity to perform in many halls throughout Europe.
Katherine founded the Operosa Opera Festival in 2006 with the aim of promoting young and talented singers. Operosa currently operates in Bulgaria, Serbia, and Montenegro, and Operosa events are extremely well received and accepted in the region, not only by the local population but also by the international audience and media.
Previous Operosa productions offer a wide selection of operas, including rare works such as Poulenc's "La Voix Humaine" and Telemann's "Pimpinone." In 2014, the Operosa Opera Festival presented the first international production staged in Montenegro with Charles Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet" in the beautiful Porto Montenegro marina in Tivat.
