Maaria Eira
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Helsinki, Finland
Rome, Italy
Saskia D’Onofrio | |
|---|---|
 Saskia D’Onofrio, a.k.a. Maaria Eira, pictured here in the 1940s | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Saskia Marjatta Suomalainen |
| Also known as | Maaria Eira |
| Born | 23 October 1924 Helsinki, Finland |
| Died | 19 June 1999 (aged 74) Rome, Italy |
| Genres | Opera |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actor |
Maaria Eira (real name Saskia D’Onofrio, née Suomalainen; 23 October 1924 – 19 June 1999) was a Finnish operatic soprano and film actress noted for her coloratura voice and stage presence.[1]
Saskia Suomalainen was born to an artistic family: her father was the violinist and music critic Yrjö Suomalainen, and her mother the professional dancer Estelle Suomalainen. Her maternal grandfather was the sculptor Emil Wikström. Her older brother was Professori Kari Suomalainen, who became famous as a political caricaturist and cartoonist.[1][2]
In the early 1950s, she married the Italian doctor Giovanni D'Onofrio, taking his name and settling in his home city of Rome.[1]
Education
She received her initial training at the Ballet of Finland (now the Finnish National Ballet) ballet school at an early age, from 1928 to 1936, with the aim of becoming a dancer like her mother.[1]
Early on, however, she switched to singing, first training in Finland under Olavi Nyberg, furthering her studies from 1948 until 1950 at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm, and from 1950 continuing under the tutelage of the renowned Italian soprano Toti Dal Monte.[1][3]
