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Martti Talvela (February 4, 1935 – July 22, 1989) was a Finnish operatic bass.

Born in Hiitola, Finland (now in the Republic of Karelia), he studied in Lahti and Stockholm, and made his operatic debut in Helsinki in 1960 as Sparafucile. At 6 ft 8 in (203 cm), he was the tallest singer of his century. He was especially acclaimed as the hero in Boris Godunov and as Pimen from the same work, as Paavo Ruotsalainen in Viimeiset Kiusaukset, as a Wagner singer (King Marke, Hunding, Fasolt, Fafner and Titurel), as Sarastro and as Prince Gremin. As his final record he left, terribly thinned out by illness, a warm and heartfelt version of Schubert's Winterreise.

He had one of the most remarkable bass voices in opera history: the combination of depth and timbre made him stand out in every part he sung, and his bass seemed to extend effortlessly without the "break" that most basses have to resort to hit their low notes, and without the unmusical quality often found with basses capable of the lowest notes.

Talvela died while dancing with his daughter at her wedding in Juva, Finland, at the age of 54.

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• Short Biography with pictures

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