Mozart Masterclass Vesselina Kasarova - Einar Þór Guðmundsson, baritone

The International Vocal Competition’s “Mozart masterclass and More” course week reached its conclusion on 3rd December 2020. Under the motto ‘The world keeps on singing’, eight talented young singers worked intensively with the masters Vesselina Kasarova, Roberta Alexander and Thomas Oliemans on Mozart repertoire. In addition to the master classes, the participants also had online discussions with leading international professionals and the Presentation Concert on the programme.
"Mozart masterclass and more" was set up to provide a stage for young singing talent after the 54th edition of the International Vocal Competition had to be moved to 2022 due to COVID-19. General Director of the IVC Ivan van Kalmthout is delighted that the masterclasses have continued. “Our mission is to give young singing talent the opportunity to develop. The sharing of knowledge by the masters is essential for these vocalists. Just like performances: gaining experience is important for their young careers.”
www.ivc.nu

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Einar Þór Guðmundsson, Baritone
Iceland (*1989)
www.einarthorgudmundsson.org

Started his studies with piano and later classical singing in Reykjavik - Member of several choirs and vocal octet in Iceland - Since 2016 studying at Royal Conservatoire The Hague with Rita Dams and Frans Fiselier - Currently first year Master at Dutch National Opera Academy - Sings during his studies in productions such as Don Giovanni, Die Zauberflöte, Le nozze di Figaro, Handel's Messiah, Mozart's Requiem, Blond Eckbert by Judith Weir.

Course repertoire:
· Se vuol ballare (Figaro) - Le nozze di Figaro
· Non più andrai (Figaro) - Le nozze di Figaro
· Hai già vinta la causa!... Vedrò mentr'io sospiro (Count Almaviva) - Le nozze di Figaro
· Deh, vieni alla finestra (Don Giovanni) - Don Giovanni
· Non siate ritrosi (Guglielmo) - Così fan tutte
· Crudel! perchè finora (Count Almaviva, Susanna)- Le nozze di Figaro

Pianist: Hans Eijsackers

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Vesselina Kasarova, Mezzo-soprano
Vesselina Kasarova was born in Stara Zagora (Bulgaria) and began playing the piano at the age of four. After her concert diploma she studied singing with Ressa Koleva at the Music Academy of Sofia and already as a student she performed in major roles at the National Opera there.
After completing her studies in 1989, a two-year fixed contract led her to the Zurich Opera House, where she quickly became a public favourite and was celebrated by international experts as a great discovery.
In the same year she also won first prize at the German singing competition "Neue Stimmen" in Gütersloh.
In the Mozart Year 1991 Vesselina Kasarova made her debut at the Salzburg Festival with two matinées in the Mozarteum (Betulia liberata KV 118) and as Annio in the revival of La clemenza di Tito conducted by Sir Colin Davis. Further roles at the Salzburg Festival were Tancredi, Ombra felice, Zerlina, Farnace, Sesto and Marguerite (La damnation de Faust). In the autumn of the same year Vesselina Kasarova made her highly acclaimed debut at the Vienna State Opera as Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia) under Donald Runnicles.
With roles of Mozart (Cherubino, Idamante, Sesto, Dorabella) and Rossini (Rosina, Tancredi, Isabella, Angelina) as well as Romeo (I Capuleti e i Montecchi), Giovanna Seymour (Anna Bolena), Charlotte (Werther) and others. She has also appeared at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Zurich Opera House, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Bavarian State Opera Munich, Opéra National de Paris (Bastille, Garnier), Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Vienna State Opera, in Amsterdam as well as at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro.
She worked with conductors such as Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Sir Colin Davis, Pinchas Steinberg, Donald Runnicles, Seji Ozawa, Semyon Bychkov, Daniel Barenboim, Riccardo Muti, Marcello Viotti, Alberto Zedda, Franz Welser-Möst, Sir Roger Norrington, Eve Queler, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Ivor Bolton and Friedrich Haider.
Recitals and concerts have taken Vesselina Kasarova to Munich, Berlin, Rome, Paris, Vienna, Dresden, La Scala Milan, Wigmore Hall London, Carnegie Hall New York, Schubertiade Feldkirch and the Festival de la Musique Montreux-Vevey.
Vesselina Kasarova has recorded many CDs for RCA Red Seal, which have received numerous awards.
www.kasarova.com