Iceland's brightest hope receives foundation support
Posted on 19 December 2013
Nominated as the ´Brightest Hope in Classical Music´at the 2013 Icelandic Music Awards, 24-year old Icelandic bass-baritone Andri Róbertsson came to Dame Kiri’s attention five years ago. He has since attended master classes with her and sung as her guest at special concerts. Dame Kiri has continued to mentor him over the past three years including his attendance at the 2009 Solti Te Kanawa Accademia di bel canto.
Since 2010 he has been studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London and received many awards and competition prizes including the first prize in the Competition of the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Academy of Arts, The Major van Someren-Godfery Prize for English Songs, The Joan Chissell Prize for Schumann Lieder, The Marjorie Thomas Art of Song Prize, the Schubert Lieder Prize and the audience prize in the Mozart Singing Competition in London.
Andri’s operatic performances include Sarastro in The Magic Flute with Garsington Opera; Don Villotto in La vera costanza with Royal Academy Opera conducted by Trevor Pinnock; Herr Buff in Der Schauspieldirektor with Royal Academy Opera; Gremin in Eugene Onegin with Royal Academy Opera conducted by Jane Glover; Arthur in The Lighthouse with Royal Academy Opera conducted by Lionel Friend. Dame Kiri believes he has outstanding talent and great potential. When Andri was recently offered an opportunity to attend the National Opera Studio (beginning in September) the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation (UK) agreed to support the move with a scholarship to cover his tuition fees.
www.andribjornrobertsson.co.uk/biography.html
Photo courtesy of Clive Barda