Biography
©Anisha Lanewala
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Karin Torbjörnsdóttir was named Singer of the Year 2020 by Gríman, the Icelandic Performing Arts Awards, for her portrayal of Cherubino in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro with the Icelandic Opera. In September 2021 Karin together with pianist Gaiva Bandzinaite gave a recital in Iceland, and made her Sweden debut in December performing Alma Mahler with Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Karin is returning to Iceland in March to give a recital in Harpa.
Musically versatile, the lyric mezzo soprano has shown some of her many colours within the opera repertoire ranging from baroque to contemporary, with special affinity for Mozart and trouser roles. Prior engagements include Luzerner Theater (CH) and the opera studio at Staatsoper Stuttgart (DE), where she performed a variety of opera roles as well as guesting. She has performed in concerts on numerous occasions in Europe, USA and Asia, and at international festivals such as Anima Mundi in Pisa, Italy, Macau International Music Festival, Lucerne Festival in Switzerland, Barocknacht, and Nacht der Komponisten in Salzburg. Among Karin's opera roles are Mozart's Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro), Annio (La clemenza di Tito), Bastien (Bastien und Bastienne), 2.Lady (Magic flute), Dorabella (Cosi fan tutte). Contemporary roles such as Amando (Le grand Macabre, Ligeti), Alto 2 (Prometeo, Luigi Nono), Der Trommler (Der Kaiser von Atlantis, V.Ullmann), and Italian opera roles Flora (La traviata, Verdi), Tisbe (La cenerentola, Rossini), Rosina and Berta (Il barbiere di Siviglia, Rossini), as well as Ottavia (Il giuoco del quadriglio, Caldara), and Pastuchyna (Jenůfa, Janáček) in Czech. |
Born in Lund, Sweden, Karin's early musical background include piano studies and competition-level choral singing, followed by private vocal studies with Swedish Mezzo Kerstin Grevelius and Prof. Laura Sarti before enrolling the Reykjavík Academy of Singing and Vocal Arts in Iceland, graduating with a Diploma of Performing ABRSM with Distinction. Further studies at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg; Bachelor studies 2010-12, and Master of Arts - Opera and Music Theatre 2012-14, lastly with Andreas Macco, Prof. Josef Wallnig and Eike Gramss, graduating with Distinction on both occasions.
Master classes Voice and Operatic repertoire with i.a. Laura Sarti, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Margaret Singer, Martha Sharp, Galina Pisarenko, Donald Kaasch, Jane Thorner and Marianne Cornetti. Lied with Clara Taylor, Richard Stokes and Breda Zakotnik; baroque gestures and baroque acting with Margit Legler, and improvisational acting with Nicola Hümpel.
She works regularly with pianist Gaiva Bandzinaite and mezzo-soprano KS. Helene Schneiderman.
Master classes Voice and Operatic repertoire with i.a. Laura Sarti, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Margaret Singer, Martha Sharp, Galina Pisarenko, Donald Kaasch, Jane Thorner and Marianne Cornetti. Lied with Clara Taylor, Richard Stokes and Breda Zakotnik; baroque gestures and baroque acting with Margit Legler, and improvisational acting with Nicola Hümpel.
She works regularly with pianist Gaiva Bandzinaite and mezzo-soprano KS. Helene Schneiderman.