Icelandic baritone Olafur Sigurdarson has been nominated Male Vocalist of the Year 2014 of the Icelandic Music Awards. The awards ceremony will be held in Harpa on 20 February 2015.
A list of all nominees in the different categories can be found here.
This announcement follows Sigurdarson’s role debut in the title role of Der fliegende Holländer at Saarländisches Staatstheater Saarbrücken at the end November, for which he has already received outstanding reviews.
A trailer of this production can be seen here.
‘Olafur Sigurdarson in the title role was enthralling; behind his sublime vocal performance all his partners faded into the background. This is a Helden baritone who does not simply approach the role of the Dutchman with pure power of voice, but also gives it the benefit of a most solidly founded singing of Italianate training. Superbly the appoggiare la voce and the sensitive phrasing of his sonorous and intensely expressive baritone voice. These aspects together with exemplary diction made for an outstanding portrait of the character. When will finally be able to hear this magnificent singer in Bayreuth?’
(Ludwig Steinbach, Der Opernfreund)
‘Yes, if the Dutchman of the phenomenal Olafur Sigurdarson were the pivot of this direction, a lot would fall into place. Sigurdarson let the audience hear music of the soul. Yearning, despair, desire: all of this becomes audible. What good fortune it is that the Staatstheater has this exceptional baritone.’
(Oliver Schwambach, Saarbrücker Zeitung)
Photography by Björn Hickmann.