BIOGRAPHY
Lyric-Dramatic soprano My Johansson is known for her bright and assured stage presence, her adaptable and rich musicianship and her warm- toned, ringing sound that is abundant and full across all registers. Her extensive repertoire encompasses Opera, Lied and Musical Theatre.
My Johansson, born in Sweden, started her singing career at an early age, performing around Southern Sweden in concerts and talent shows.
At the age of 18 she was accepted into Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London, where she attended a intensive course which, in turn, led to her continued studies in the Musical Theatre performer programme at the BalletAcademy of Gothenburg,Sweden.
During her years at the Academy, Ms.Johansson gained much experience from performing in professional productions, such as Domina in Sondheimś A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Cathy in Jason Robert Brownś The Last Five Years.
During her studies in singing, drama, dance and speech, her singing professor noted her voice as being of exceptional beauty and strength, and suitable for classical repertoire, so Ms. Johansson was encouraged to audition for Stockholm Opera Studio and, in the Autumn of 2010, she was accepted.
At Stockholm Opera Studio, Johansson had the opportunity to work with prominent professionals including Professor Barbro Marklund, pianist Bengt-Åke Lundin, and Swedish soprano Kerstin Avemo.
Her operatic roles there included Euridice (Gluck, Orfeo ed Euridice), Sophie (Massenet, Werther) and Sandrina (Mozart, La Finta Giardiniera).
Upon graduation from the Opera Studio in Stockholm, she was accepted to the Operalabb- an elite group of young opera singers- led by Swedish tenor Nikola Matisic.
During this training Ms. Johansson was introduced to vocal coach Mattias Danielsson, former student of Nicolai Gedda, and through her intensive private studies with him, Ms. Johansson developed an even more rich and full-toned soprano sound, which led to her foray into the repertoire of Wagner, Strauss, Puccini and Verdi.
Engagements with Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland, Malmö Opera and Finnish National Opera were soon to follow, working with renowned conductors such as Pier Giorgio Morandi, Leif Segerstam, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Philippe Auguin.
In Summer 2017 Ms. Johansson made her solo debut at Savonlinna Opera Festival as Contessa Ceprano in Verdis Rigoletto, directed by Sir David McVicar.
The same year, she made her solo debut at the Finnish National Opera in the world premiere of Sebastian Fagerlunds Autumn Sonata. She sang the same part in a concertante version in Berwaldhallen, Stockholm in 2018.
2020 would have marked the year of Ms. Johanssons Wagner debut, singing the part of Ortlinde in Die Walküre in a new production of Der Ring des Nibelungen, directed by Anna Kelo and conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen, at the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki. The long awaited premiere was rescheduled to 2022, due to the covid19 pandemic.
In October 2023, Johansson made her debut at the Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam, portraying the role of Student 2 (Lilly) in Kaija Saariahos last opera Innocence.
When she is not to be found on the opera stage, My Johansson can be found drinking strong Swedish coffee, indulging in hot Finnish sauna whilst educating non- Nordics how to pronounce her name!
Innocence, Finnish Nationalopera
Picture: Ilkka Saastamoinen/Suomen Kansallisooppera