Maaria Eira

Maaria Eira (real name Saskia D’Onofrio, Suomalainen; 23 October 1924 – 19 June 1999) was a Finnish operatic soprano and film actress noted for her coloratura voice and stage presence.

Personal life 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.

In the early 1950s, she married the Italian doctor Giovanni D'Onofrio, taking his name and settling in his home city of Rome.

Career Singing Eira's debut performance as a singer came in 1942, at the young age of 18, as Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto.

Directing In 1980, Maaria Eira D'Onofrio began her career as opera director, debuting at the Rome Opera with a production of Strauss' Elektra. She later went on to direct Aida at Macerata (1982) and Lucia di Lammermoor in Bari (1985), followed among others by productions of La bohème and Madama Butterfly. She won the La Triade artistic award for her directorial accomplishments in 1986.