Johanna Rusanen was born into a family of musicians in Kuopio, Finland. Having received her Masters degree in Music at the Sibelius Academy under the guidance of the well known wagnerian soprano Anita Välkki, Johanna completed her studies in Berlin and Vienna and was a member of the young artist program at Deutsche Oper Berlin for two years. Her major roles also include Tatjana in Eugen Onegin, Marie in Wozzeck, Amelia in Un ballo in maschera and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni. In recent years, Johanna Rusanen has won particular acclaim for her portrayals of strong women in Finnish operas, her best known performances being Riitta in The Last Temptations in Nivala (2009), Anna in Sallinen’s Ratsumies at the Savonlinna Opera Festival (2005-2006) and Aalo in The Wolf’s Bride by Pylkkänen in Helsinki (2006). Johanna has performed as an oratorio soloist and has given lieder recitals in numerous European countries as well as in Japan, Chile, the United States and North Korea. The soprano part of the Kullervo Symphony by Jean Sibelius has become one of her trademark pieces. She has recently performed in Kullervo, at Prag Spring festival, Tokyo and the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago. Her interpretation in Penderecki’s Polish Requiem under the composer’s baton was awarded a Grammy in 2017.