Eicca Toppinen | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Toppinen performing in 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1975-08-05)5 August 1975 (age 50) |
| Origin | Vantaa, Finland |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician,composer,songwriter |
| Instruments | |
Eino Matti "Eicca" Toppinen (born 5 August 1975) is aFinnishcellist, songwriter, producer, and arranger. In 1993 he formed the quartetApocalyptica.[1]
Toppinen grew up in Vantaa'sHakunila and has three sisters and one brother, all of whom took instrument lessons while growing up.[2] He started playing cello when he was nine. He and his sisters made several amateur recordings for their family, usually for Christmas.
He attended theSibelius Academy inHelsinki, where he met future Apocalyptica band membersPaavo Lötjönen,Antero Manninen, andMax Lilja. He played for several orchestras, includingFinnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Avanti! chamber orchestra. He's also a founding member of theSibelius Academy's Cellosextet. When attending Sibelius Academy, Eicca could not get an apartment or student support money because he lived too close toHelsinki, where the Academy resides.[2]
In 1993, when Toppinen was still studying in Sibelius Academy, the young Vivo Christian Orchestra played three songs from theMetallica album,Ride The Lightning. According to Toppinen, he bought a book ofguitar music for the album, and did not have notes for any other albums.[2]
Two years later, Apocalyptica performed at Teatro Heavy Metal Club inHelsinki,[3] on the same night withHis Infernal Majesty, later to be known asHIM. A week later, Kari Hynninen of Zen Garden Records contacted Eicca to discuss a deal to make their very first record,Plays Metallica by Four Cellos.[4]
After first writing songs for Apocalyptica, Toppinen also became involved in various other projects, such as the theatrical performance ofPaper Rain and the Finnish FilmMilja. In 2007, Toppinen composed the soundtrack for the Finnish movieMusta Jää (Black Ice). On 3 February 2008 he won aJussi Award for writing the score. He also wrote the movie's main theme song, sung byHanna Pakarinen.[5]
In December 2007, Toppinen was invited to theFinnish Independence Day Presidential Reception inHelsinki, which he attended with his wife, Kirsi, and was prominently featured in the media. This caused him to miss Apocalyptica's sold-out show inStrasbourg, France - the first time he had ever missed a performance by his band in 14 years.[5]
Toppinen was responsible for writing the score for the classical-metal crossover projectWagner Reloaded-Live in Leipzig which was recorded live inLeipzig Arena in July 2013 and released as an Apocalyptica album in November 2013.[6]
Toppinen has also composed an opera commissioned by theFinnish National Opera, with his Apocalyptica bandmatePerttu Kivilaakso. Their opera is titledIndigo, and "tells a sci-fi influenced story of an omnipotent multinational company and the search for happiness", premiered on 22 January 2016.[7][8][9]
In 2020, Toppinen was a guest panelist on the first season of the TV showMasked Singer Suomi.[10]
Toppinen says his biggest achievement isApocalyptica.[5]
In addition to being a cellist inApocalyptica, he is also the drummer of the former Finnish rock bandCherry & The Vipers (together with his ex-wife,Kirsi).[11]
Toppinen marriedKirsi Ylijoki, a Finnish actress, in 1997. They lived in an expansive rural area inSipoo, Finland.[5]They have two children: Eelis, born in 1998, and Ilmari, born in 2002.[2] They divorced in 2020. As of 2023, Toppinen lives inOslo, Norway, with his Norwegian fiance.
Lupot (1787)Postiglione (1857)
GuillaumeA.Vigneron
Thomastik-Infeld Spirocore
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
