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Lea Piltti

1904 – 1982

Finnish singer

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About Lea Piltti

Lived 1904 – 1982 (aged 78). Lea Piltti was a Finnish singer and musician.

Lea Piltti (1 February 1904 – 5 February 1982) was a Finnish opera singer and voice pedagog, one of the leading coloratura sopranos of the 1930s and 40s, and one of Finland's most successful singers on the international stage.

Early life and education Lea Piltti was born to Juho Piltti and Elsa Maria Korhonen; both her parents were teachers. Her father was a keen singer, and singing helped form a strong connection between him and his daughter.

After completing her secondary education, she went to the Jyväskylä teacher training college to train also as a teacher; she completed her training, but never worked as a teacher, choosing instead a musical career.

For much of her active singing career, however, Piltti worked in Germany, where she was nicknamed Die Piltti.

Upon her return to Finland in 1943, Piltti initially received a cool reception due to her association with Nazi Germany, and it took many years for her talents to be appreciated again in her native country.

In 1974, the honorary title of Professori was conferred on Piltti.

Personal life Piltti was an extremely shy and reserved person.

She was married twice. During her time in Germany she was married to a German man, as well as taking German citizenship. The marriage ended in 1943, and Piltti returned to Finland, where, in 1946, she married Olavi Killinen.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
Jyväskylä Teacher Seminary
Awards
Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland; Badge of Merit of the Order of the White Rose of Finland; Cross of Liberty, 4th Class

People in Lea Piltti's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Lea Piltti's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Lea Piltti?

Finnish singer

When was Lea Piltti born?

Lea Piltti was born on 1 February 1904 in Rautjärvi.

When did Lea Piltti die?

Lea Piltti died on 5 February 1982 in Helsinki.

What was Lea Piltti's occupation?

Lea Piltti was a singer and musician.

What nationality was Lea Piltti?

Lea Piltti was Finnish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Lea Piltti

· Wikidata: Q17278663

· DBpedia: Lea Piltti

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Lea Piltti. https://biography.guide/lea-piltti/

MLA: "Lea Piltti." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/lea-piltti/.

Chicago: "Lea Piltti." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/lea-piltti/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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