Biography

Vilppu Kiljunen is a freelance opera stage director whose works can be seen in Finland and abroad.

Kiljunen started out by studying musicology, drama as well as theoretical philosophy at the Helsinki University. He also studied violin at the Helsinki Conservatory of Music, dance among others at the Finnish National Opera Ballet School, and pantomime at the International School of Marcel Marceau in Paris. In 1990, he graduated as a Master of Arts in Stage Directing from the Theater Academy of Finland.

Kiljunen has contributed to the Savonlinna Opera Festival through its artistic committee. He was the artistic director of the Theater Pieni Suomi (Small Finland) and has taught at the Arts Academy of Turku, the Aalto University School of Design, at the Theater Academy of Finland, and the Sibelius Academy. He has performed in theater productions, movies and the performance art.

Kiljunen debuted as an opera director with Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito in 1993. In addition to his works on the main stages in Finland, Sweden and Russia, he has staged opera productions as well in Middle Europe.

More: vilppukiljunen@gmail.com