Biography
Described as "a singer of a singer of high intelligence, feisty character and captivating vocal colour" (Hilary Finch, the Times), the Icelandic mezzo-soprano Gudrún Ólafsdóttir has performed across Europe and in Latin America in such halls as Bozar’s Henry le Boeuf Hall in Brussels, Auditorio Nacional de Música de Madrid, Teatro Real, the Buenos Aires Coliseo, St. Petersburg’s Philharmonia’s Glinka Hall and the Royal Festival Hall in London. Known for her "wonderful stage presence" (Warwick Thompson, Metro Life) and direct communication with the audience, she has performed with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Sonor Ensemble, Caput, La Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid, the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra in London. She has sung the title role in Montsalvatge’s opera El Gato con Botas for Teatro Real in Madrid. Other operatic roles include Cenerentola, Dorabella, Rosina, Romeo, Lazuli, Prince Orlowsky, Purcell’s Dido, Mozart’s Sesto and Der Komponist.
Gudrún studied at the Reykjavík College of Music under Rut Magnússon, before moving to London, where she completed a Master of Music degree and the Opera Course at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, studying with Professor Laura Sarti. She then furthered her studies with mezzo-soprano Alicia Nafé in Madrid. Gudrún has won numerous prizes for her singing, including the Joaquín Rodrigo Prize in Madrid, the Lieder Prize in the Zamora International Singing Competition in Spain, the Miriam Licette Scholarship at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, third prize in Concorso Vocale Internazionale di Musica Sacra in Rome and the Kathleen Ferrier Song Prize at the Wigmore Hall in London.
An exponent of new music, Gudrún has offered world premières of works by a number of composers of different nationalities, who have composed their works especially for her. She created the role of Ingibjörg in the acclaimed opera Ragnheiður by Gunnar Thórdarson. Her numerous CDs include Grieg-Schumann, Mine is Yours – Icelandic and Spanish Songs, Unto Us, Sigvaldi Kaldalóns: Ég lít í anda liðna tíð, Grannmetislög, Apocrypha (Classical CD of the Year, Icelandic Music Prize), Iepo Oneipo - Sacred Dream (Editor’s Choice Gramophone Magazine), Áskell Másson Ymni (Naxos), English and Scottish Romantic Songs for Voice and Guitar (EMEC Discos) and Secretos quiero descubrir – Spanish Music for Voice, Violin and Guitar.
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Teaching
Gudrún teaches voice at Tónlistarskóli Kópavogs and Söngskóli Sigurðar Demetz, in Iceland. She has given master classes on Spanish and Latin American music at the Icelandic Academy of the Arts and the Reykjavik School of Singing. She also coaches male, female and mixed choirs on vocal technique. Please email info@gudrunolafsdottir.com for further inquires regarding private lessons and courses.
Ensembles
Guðrún forms Duo Atlantico with her husband, the classical guitarist Francisco Javier Jáuregui. With violinist Elena Jáuregui they make up the Aglaia Trio. Guðrún is also a frequent collaborator with Sonor Ensemble Madrid, under the direction of Luis Aguirre
Repertoire
Gudrún’s voice is a lyric mezzo-soprano voice, which in earlier times would have been classified as a second soprano voice. Her wide vocal range allows her to sing repertoire ranging from music written for alto to soprano. Gudrún performs regularly in recital, with piano, guitar and ensembles. Her repertoire ranges from Sephardic Songs in the 15th century to premieres of new works by international composers. Her recital programmes typically feature songs in English, French, German, Italian, Catalan, Galician, Russian, Latin, Basque, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish, with a special emphasis on repertoire in Icelandic and Spanish.
For more information on Guðrún's repertoire, click here.