BIOGRAPHY
Icelandic Soprano Rannveig Káradóttir is currently a member of the ensemble at Landestheater Coburg in Germany. Her roles there include Laura in Neues vom Tage, Erste Dame in die Zauberflöte, Fiordiligi in Cosi van tutte and the title role in die Zirkusprinzessin.
Rannveig began her vocal studies at the Reykjavík College of Music. She was a member of the Opera Studio of the Icelandic Opera, and, fresh from a performance in Carnegie Hall as First Prize winner in the Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition, she made her debut with the company as Annina in La traviata. After studying privately in Italy, and attending language classes at the University of Verona, she won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London.
In her first week at the RCM, her stage presence and vocal versatility saw her cast as Nerone in L’incoronazione di Poppea, a collaboration between the RCM and English Touring Opera. Rannveig graduated from the RCM with Distinction, and as a Britten-Pears Young Artist, performed the title role in Poppea at the Aldeburgh Festival, receiving praise for her “vocally and visually sinuous” portrayal.
Shortly afterwards, in 2014, Rannveig sang the role of Violetta in La traviata for Euphonia Opera at the Rye Arts Festival, to great critical acclaim: “Her expressive, beautiful, and flexible voice, allied to powerful acting and stage presence, enabled her to present … a definitive portrait of the central character.” Following this success, she returned to the festival as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni and Mimì in La bohème. She toured throughout Europe performing Be with me now, a newly-devised piece which premiered at the Aix-en-Provence Festival 2015, with shows in Amsterdam, Munich, Warsaw, Paris, Lisbon, Brussels, culminating in a performance at the Aldeburgh Festival. Further engagements in the UK followed, including the title role in Madama Butterfly at Rhosygilwen, and Tatyana in Eugene Onegin at Whitgift Theatre.
Rannveig’s interest in exploring the operatic form has led to a long-lasting collaboration with composer Helgi R. Ingvarsson. Their first project together was a design-led opera, Bráð, about the impact of global warming on the rapidly-melting Snæfellsjökull glacier. More recently, Rannveig created the role of Eva Ende in After the Fall, a deeply philosophical piece about an opera singer whose successful career has been cut short by an accident, leaving her unable to comprehend music.
Driven by a desire to raise the profile of Icelandic art-song, and her love of Icelandic nature, Rannveig released the album Krot – Icelandic Songs. The disc, with pianist Birna Hallgrímsdóttir, features pieces which draw their inspiration from the richly varied and dramatic landscapes and natural world of Iceland.
Rannveig began her vocal studies at the Reykjavík College of Music. She was a member of the Opera Studio of the Icelandic Opera, and, fresh from a performance in Carnegie Hall as First Prize winner in the Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition, she made her debut with the company as Annina in La traviata. After studying privately in Italy, and attending language classes at the University of Verona, she won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London.
In her first week at the RCM, her stage presence and vocal versatility saw her cast as Nerone in L’incoronazione di Poppea, a collaboration between the RCM and English Touring Opera. Rannveig graduated from the RCM with Distinction, and as a Britten-Pears Young Artist, performed the title role in Poppea at the Aldeburgh Festival, receiving praise for her “vocally and visually sinuous” portrayal.
Shortly afterwards, in 2014, Rannveig sang the role of Violetta in La traviata for Euphonia Opera at the Rye Arts Festival, to great critical acclaim: “Her expressive, beautiful, and flexible voice, allied to powerful acting and stage presence, enabled her to present … a definitive portrait of the central character.” Following this success, she returned to the festival as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni and Mimì in La bohème. She toured throughout Europe performing Be with me now, a newly-devised piece which premiered at the Aix-en-Provence Festival 2015, with shows in Amsterdam, Munich, Warsaw, Paris, Lisbon, Brussels, culminating in a performance at the Aldeburgh Festival. Further engagements in the UK followed, including the title role in Madama Butterfly at Rhosygilwen, and Tatyana in Eugene Onegin at Whitgift Theatre.
Rannveig’s interest in exploring the operatic form has led to a long-lasting collaboration with composer Helgi R. Ingvarsson. Their first project together was a design-led opera, Bráð, about the impact of global warming on the rapidly-melting Snæfellsjökull glacier. More recently, Rannveig created the role of Eva Ende in After the Fall, a deeply philosophical piece about an opera singer whose successful career has been cut short by an accident, leaving her unable to comprehend music.
Driven by a desire to raise the profile of Icelandic art-song, and her love of Icelandic nature, Rannveig released the album Krot – Icelandic Songs. The disc, with pianist Birna Hallgrímsdóttir, features pieces which draw their inspiration from the richly varied and dramatic landscapes and natural world of Iceland.