Taru Valjakka  Taru Aura Helena Valjakka (née Kumpunen; 16 September 1938, Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish soprano opera singer. Before her opera career she worked as music teacher and a choir director in Helsinki. She made her opera debut in 1964 as Donna Anna in Mozart's "Don Giovanni". She had a central role in rise of the new Finnish opera in 1970s, singing lead roles in world premieres of "The Horseman" and "The Red Line" by Aulis Sallinen, "The Last Temptations" by Joonas Kokkonen and "Silkkirumpu" by Paavo Heininen. Valjakka is also noted for lied recitals and her interpretations of songs by Jean Sibelius.