The Flying Dutchman 101: Q&A with Olafur Sigurdarson

Icelandic baritone Olafur Sigurdarson returns to Opera Colorado after portraying the title function in Falstaff in 2018. Whereas he’s no stranger to enjoying the Dutchman, that is his first time performing the function within the Mile Excessive Metropolis. An skilled on the works of Wagner, Olafur is an excellent addition to this forged. Meet the person, the parable, the legend from Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman within the Q&A under.

How did you get entangled in opera? Was music a part of your life as a toddler in Iceland?

With music being an enormous a part of my life from early on, I got here fairly late to opera. My dad is an expert musician, as was my grandfather. Their work stored me near the Icelandic music trade, be it classical, rock, pop, or theater. I then spent years working in my father’s recording studio in (Reykjavík, whereas finding out music myself with the violin as my fundamental instrument.

Singing can be an enormous a part of Icelandic tradition. I sang loads as a child, on albums and in choirs. Nevertheless, I solely took up formal singing research on the age of twenty-one. After that, there was no turning again.

This isn’t your first time singing The Dutchman. What do you want about enjoying this function and the way do you relate to the character?

I used to be lucky to get The Flying Dutchman into my repertoire in 2014 and have revisited the function in just a few completely different productions since. It’s not possible to not get fully enthralled by the magical music Wagner offers the story and characters; he strikes the storyline ahead in such a brisk and thrilling approach. It truly is an edge-of-your-seat journey. The Dutchman himself is an excellent alternative for me to discover the numerous layers of his journey, musically and emotionally. Maybe, I see myself on this character. I grew up by the ocean in Iceland, I’ve been away from my homeland for years and years, and I hope for a pleasant opera contract a minimum of each seven years that brings me near the Dutchman. No matter it’s, I’m a fortunate boy getting to place his coat on.

You’re fairly the Wagner skilled and have even carried out in a number of seasons on the Bayreuth Competition. What do you want about Wagner and performing his work?

I might be the final individual to seek advice from myself as an skilled. However, Wagner has turn out to be an enormous presence in my life and profession. It has modified my life to have the ability to sing each summer season on the Bayreuth Competition. Wagner gave us baritones among the most luxurious roles and music in operatic historical past. He was fascinated with outdated sagas which relate on to my background coming from Iceland. As quickly as I sang my first Wagner opera, it actually felt like coming house, each vocally and dramatically. Associating Wagner with merely being loud and too large is a grave mistake. He has given us among the most delicate and exquisite musical moments doable. What’s to not like?

You had been final in Colorado in 2018 to painting the title character in Falstaff. What do you want about Colorado and what are you excited to do throughout your free time right here?

Effectively, the one factor higher than singing at Opera Colorado is attending to sing at Opera Colorado once more, proper? I had probably the most unbelievable time engaged on Falstaff in 2018. Lasting friendships had been made, and I’ve stored in contact with lots of my beautiful pals and colleagues since. It actually means loads when an organization invitations you to return, one thing I treasure enormously. I used to be in a position to benefit from the Colorado spring in 2018 with some spectacular areas visited. I’m excited to return earlier within the 12 months this time round and to get pleasure from each town of Denver and hopefully some journeys exterior when doable. Oh, and a cheeky breakfast on the Delectable Egg may be within the playing cards!

What do you love to do exterior of opera?

I’ve at all times loved touring and, fortunately, my job permits me to do loads of it. My spouse and I like cooking and are continuously in search of new and attention-grabbing experiences. I do get pleasure from taking my digital camera for walks and hikes as usually as doable, and Colorado is, most actually, the place to be. One other considered one of my hobbies is fishing. There is just one draw back to singing on the Bayreuth Competition each summer season–the fishing there isn’t pretty much as good as in Iceland.

BONUS: You’ve gotten “mum’s 2nd favorite baritone” on just a few social media accounts. Who’s her favourite baritone?

I can’t inform you sufficient how a lot I like this query! It so occurs {that a} younger Icelandic baritone, Fjölnir Olafson, is, no doubt, my mum’s favorite. I’ve been lucky sufficient to carry out with him on many events. He was, for instance, Sciarrone to my Scarpia in Tosca, each in Germany and in Iceland. On prime of this, he’s a profitable lawyer in Reykjavík. Oh, and he occurs to be my son. Relating to mum, I didn’t stand an opportunity!

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You’ve gotten met the person behind the parable. What else do you need to find out about Olafur? Tell us within the feedback under.