Opera singer Waltteri Torikka wins MTV competition

Waltteri Torikka during the finale of Tähdet, Tähdet

Finnish barihunk Waltteri Torikka won MTV's singing competition Tähdet, Tähdet (Stars, Stars) garnering 58% of the vote and bringing the audience to its feet with his own hip swinging rendition of Ricky Martin's Livin' La Vida Loca.  Sunday's finale culminated a two month journey that included performances of Whitesnake's Still of Night, a country version of "Ring of Fire," the punk rock song "Hei hei mitä kuuluu," a Finnish tango, and even an Ozzy Osbourne-esque version of Scarpia from Tosca!

 Waltteri Torikka sings Livin' La Vida Loca:

Waltteri Torikka finished ahead of Laura Voutilainen. Both finalists performed three songs during the finale. Torikka was a relatively unknown opera singers to most Finns when the competition began, but quickly became a fan favorite with his energetic and often sexually charged renditions of pieces. 

He now heads to the Rijeka Opera in Croatia to sing the title role in Mozart's Don Giovanni from May 21-29. Fans in the UK can see him on August 29th at the Proms, where he will be performing Jean Sibelius' Kullervo.