Kristjan Johannsson
Encyclopedia
Kristján Jóhannsson is an Icelandic opera
tic tenor
particularly known for his performances in Verdian roles, and especially as Radames in Aida
.
under Gianni Poggi, as well as studying privately with Ettore Campogalliani and Ferruccio Tagliavini
.
In 1980, Kristján Jóhannsson made his operatic debut in Osimo
, Italy at the Teatro Piccolo la Fenice in Puccini´s Il tabarro
and Gianni Schicchi
. He then went on to sing in leading opera houses around the world as well as at the Arena di Verona Apart from Verdian roles, his repertoire also includes the principal tenor roles in operas by Puccini, Leoncavallo, Wagner, Saint-Saëns
, Mascagni, and Beethoven.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
tic tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
particularly known for his performances in Verdian roles, and especially as Radames in Aida
Aida
Aida sometimes spelled Aïda, is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette...
.
Biography
Although Kristján was born into a musical family, he did not begin his musical studies until he was twenty years old, first at the College of Music in his native city under Sigurdur Demetz. He then went to Italy to pursue additional vocal training at the Conservatorio Nicolini in PiacenzaPiacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
under Gianni Poggi, as well as studying privately with Ettore Campogalliani and Ferruccio Tagliavini
Ferruccio Tagliavini
Ferruccio Tagliavini was an Italian operatic tenor mainly active in the 1940s and 1950s...
.
In 1980, Kristján Jóhannsson made his operatic debut in Osimo
Osimo
Osimo is a town and comune of the Marche, Italy, in the province of Ancona, 15 km south of that town by rail. It is situated on a hill near the Adriatic Sea.Silk-spinning and the raising of cocoons are carried on.-History:...
, Italy at the Teatro Piccolo la Fenice in Puccini´s Il tabarro
Il tabarro
Il tabarro is an opera in one act by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Giuseppe Adami, based on Didier Gold's play La houppelande. It is the first of the trio of operas known as Il trittico...
and Gianni Schicchi
Gianni Schicchi
Gianni Schicchi is a comic opera in one act by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Giovacchino Forzano, composed in 1917–18. The libretto is based on an incident mentioned in Dante's Divine Comedy. The work is the third and final part of Puccini's Il trittico —three one-act operas with...
. He then went on to sing in leading opera houses around the world as well as at the Arena di Verona Apart from Verdian roles, his repertoire also includes the principal tenor roles in operas by Puccini, Leoncavallo, Wagner, Saint-Saëns
Camille Saint-Saëns
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was a French Late-Romantic composer, organist, conductor, and pianist. He is known especially for The Carnival of the Animals, Danse macabre, Samson and Delilah, Piano Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto No. 1, Havanaise, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, and his Symphony...
, Mascagni, and Beethoven.
Major House debuts
- 1988 La ScalaLa ScalaLa Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
, I due FoscariI due FoscariI due Foscari is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on a historical play, The Two Foscari by Lord Byron.... - 1989 Lyric Opera of ChicagoLyric Opera of ChicagoLyric Opera of Chicago is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. It was founded in Chicago in 1952, under the name 'Lyric Theatre of Chicago' by Carol Fox, Nicolà Rescigno and Lawrence Kelly, with a season that included Maria Callas's American debut in Norma...
, ToscaToscaTosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on 14 January 1900... - 1991 Vienna State OperaVienna State OperaThe Vienna State Opera is an opera house – and opera company – with a history dating back to the mid-19th century. It is located in the centre of Vienna, Austria. It was originally called the Vienna Court Opera . In 1920, with the replacement of the Habsburg Monarchy by the First Austrian...
, Tosca - 1993 New York Metropolitan OperaMetropolitan OperaThe Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
, Il trovatoreIl trovatoreIl trovatore is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Salvadore Cammarano, based on the play El Trovador by Antonio García Gutiérrez. Cammarano died in mid-1852 before completing the libretto... - 1994 Royal Opera HouseRoyal Opera HouseThe Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, Covent Garden, Aida.
Recordings
- Verdi: Aida (Maria DragoniMaria DragoniMaria Dragoni is an Italian operatic soprano who has had an active international career in major opera houses since the mid 1980s. She appears on several complete opera recordings.-Life and career:...
, Kristjan Johannsson, Francesco Ellero d'Artegna, Barbara Dever, Mark Rucker, RTÉ National Symphony OrchestraRTÉ National Symphony OrchestraThe RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra is the concert music orchestra of Raidió Teilifís Éireann...
; Rico SaccaniRico SaccaniRico Saccani is an Italian conductor who served as Music Director/Artistic Adviser of the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra between 1996 and 2005 and was principal guest conductor of the Hungarian State Opera from 1985 to 2005.-Biography:...
, conductor). Naxos 8660033-34 - Verdi: Aida (Kristjan Johansson, Maria Chiara, Dolora Zajick, Juan Pons, Carlo Strioli, Nicolaj Ghiuselev, Angelo Casertano, Anna Schiatti, Orchestra e Coro dell'Arena di Verona; Nello SantiNello SantiNello Santi is an Italian conductor. He is often called "Papa Santi" by his fellow musicians to show their high respect for his work.-Biography:...
, conductor) Fondazione Arena di Verona