Janari Jorro Biography

Biography

Janari Jorro is an Estonian baritone born in 1988 in the small town of Võru.

Janari Jorro began his piano studies in 1999 at the Võru Music School on the recommendation of his boys choir conductor. He continued his studies in classical singing at Heino Eller Tartu Music College (2007–2012) with Henn Pai, Viviane Kallaste and Taavi Tampuu. Moving to Tallinn he continued his vocal studies in Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (EAMT) where he graduated with a masters degree in 2017 (2012–2017) under associate professor Taavi Tampuu.

Janari has participated in German Lied masterclasses by professor Eva Märtson-Wilson and oratorio masterclasses by professor Jörg Dürmüller.

3rd prize at the Mart Saar Competition, Estonia
2nd prize at the Vello Jürna Vocalist Competition, winning Special prize from the Vello Jürna family and Special prize for the best Estonian song interpretation, Estonia.
Finalist at the IV National Vocalist Competition in Tallinn, Estonia.

He started his artistic career in 2014 as Enrico in G. Donizetti‘s opera „Il Campanello“ which was a collaboration between EAMT and Estonian National Opera and was performed at the Estonian National Opera. He then sang Aeneas from H. Purcell’s opera „Dido and Aeneas“ in 2016 in collaboration with EAMT Opera Studio, EAMT Early Music Center and EAMT Drama School.

In April 2017, Janari sang De Guiche in E. Tamberg’s opera „Cyrano de Bergerac“ at the Estonian National Opera and then in 2018 he was Gil in E. Wolf-Ferrari’s opera „Il Segreto di Susanna“ with opera studio „Opera Veto“ and toured with this production on various small stages in Estonia.

In 2018. Janari also sang the solo in R. Eespere’s „Invocatio“ for baritone, male choir, organ and percussion instruments under the direction of Estonian National Male Choir’s conductor M. Üleoja, accompanied, at the organ by P. Aidulo and on percussion instruments R. Roos.

In 2019 he premiered two new roles at Estonian National Opera : Count Almaviva in W. A. Mozart’s opera „Le Nozze di Figaro“ in Estonian National Opera. September 2019, he sang his premiere as Paris in C. Gounod’s opera „Romeo et Juliette“ in Estonian National Opera.

2019 was the same year he started collaboration with opera coach and pianist Toomas Kaldaru.

In November and December 2021, Janari sang bass solos in Bach Cantatas BWV 106, 140 with Tõnu Kaljuste conducting Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Tallinn Chamber Orhcestra. Concerts in Tallinn were performed in Estonian National Concert Hall and House of Black Heads. Concerts in Tartu were performed in Vanemuine Concert Hall and Tubin Concert Hall.

Since 2021 he has premiered more roles in Estonian National Opera: Sid in G. Puccini’s opera „La Fanciulla del West“ in the autumn of 2021 and Barone Douphol in G. Verdi’s opera „La Traviata“ in April 2022.

In July 2023, Janari sang St John Passion in Haapsalu Early Music Festival singing bass and Pilate. The concert was conducted by Toomas Siitan who is the leader and the founder of Ensemble Studio Vocale Haapsalu Festival Baroque Orchestra.

In August 2024, he sang the leading male role Lemmet performing in the world premiere in M.Maltis opera Bread Crumb Child. The performances took place in Narva Opera Festival