Karin Kjellgren | Swedish opera singer - soprano

Biography & CV

  1. Biography & CV

    Here are Karins biography and CV
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  2. Biography

    Karin Kjellgren is an expressive soprano with a beautiful and personal timbre.

    Karin was born and raised in Nacka outside Stockholm. After studying at the music program at Vadstena Folk High School, she continued her studies at the Opera Studio 67 and Opera School in Gothenburg, where she graduated in January 2005.

    In Opera School's final production, she sang Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata, directed by Folke Abenius. It was played on “Artisten” in Gothenburg and Jönköping Concert Hall, both sold out.

    During her studies, she also portrayed the title role in Rorems opera Miss Julie , Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro and Despina in Così fan tutte both by Mozart, as well as studied in Nanetta in Verdi's Falstaff, Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier and Mimi in Puccini's La Bohème. Karin studied singing for MariAnne Häggander, Royal Court Singer and voice teacher and later for Dale Fundling.

    Her debut did Karin back in 2004 at Läckö Castle Opera, in Chabrier The Horoscope (original title L'Etoile), where she sang one of the leads, Aloes.

    In spring 2005, after graduating, she sang the role of Juliette Vermont in The Count of Luxembourg by Lehár at the Gothenburg Opera House, directed by Hans Wigren. In August 2006, Karin was a soloist on the Gothenburg Opera House summer tour.

    In the autumn of 2007, sang Karin again Juliette's party in Lehár's operetta The Count of Luxembourg now on Skandiateatern in Norrköping.

    During the summer of 2007 played Karin in the Moliere's The Imaginary Invalid at Gunnebo Castle in Gothenburg. She portrayed the singing daughter Angélique and during the spring of 2008, she toured throughout Sweden with this production arranged by Riksteatern.

    2010-2011 Karin participated in Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Drottningholm Court Theatre. There she also participated in Handel's Alcina in the summer of 2003.

    2013 Karin participated in a project at the Opera School in Stockholm, where she sang Despina in Mozart's Così fan tutte.

    Karin is also a romance and concert singer. She has appeared in Gothenburg Concert Hall, Gothenburg Opera House, Stora Teatern in Gothenburg, Vara Concert Hall and the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, and in several churches. She also sang at Chalmers 175th anniversary, where the King and Queen attended.

    Karin's concert repertoire consists of for example Händel's Messiah, Larssons God in disguise, Rutter's Requiem, Orff's Carmina Burana and Mozart's Requiem and Exsultate Jubilate. She also gladly sings Nordic romances of Stenhammar, Grieg and Sibelius.

    Karin is Alice Babs scholarship holder and has also received Sandrews, Masonic, William Linds and Lasse Lönndahls scholarship.

  3. CV

    Engagements (a selection)

    2013 Despina in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Riksteatern, production with the Opera School in Stockholm
    2011 Ensemble role in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Drottningholms slottsteater
    2010 Ensemble role in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Drottningholms slottsteater
    2008 Angélique in Molière's, The Imaginary Invalid, Tour in Sweden with Riksteatern
    2007 Juliette Vermont in Lehar’s The Count of Luxembourg, Skandia Teatern, Norrköping
    2006 Soloist on the Gothenburg Opera summer tour
    2005 Juliette Vermont in Lehar’s The Count of Luxembourg, Gothenburg Opera
    2004 Aloës in Chabrier’s L’Etoile, Läckö Castle Opera
    2003 Court dame in Håndel’s Alcina, Drottningholms slottsteater

    During the years 2008-2011 Karin had two children, and then chose fewer engagement on stage.

    Concert engagements with orchestra (a selection)

    2011 Soprano soloist at Ericsson Golden Gala, Stockholm City House
    2009 Soprano soloist in Rutter’s Requiem, Boo church, Stockholm
    2007 Soprano soloist in Orff’s Carmina Burana, Eriksbergshallen, Göteborg
    2005 Soloist at Våryran, Göteborgsoperan
    2004 Soloist at Operakonsert with Borås Symfoniorkester, Åhaga
    2003 Nice in Britten’s Peter Grimes, Göteborgs Konserthus
    2003 Operakonsert at Nalen in Stockholm
    2002 Mimi in Puccini’s La Bohème, Artisten, Göteborg

    Concert engagements (a selection)

    2013 Lions charity concert in Saltsjöbaden, Stockholm with pianist Stefan Bojsten
    2012 Soloist at Gala evening on Vasamuseet in Stockholm
    2007 Soprano soloist with string quartet from Göteborg symphony orchestra at Akvarellmuseet in Skärhamn
    2007 Opera concert at Vara Konsert Hall
    2006 Opera- operett and musical concert at Kungsbacka New Theatre
    2005 Music in our hearts, concert with Love Derwinger, piano and Kjell Fagéus, clarinet
    2004 Soloist during Chalmers 175th anniversary in which His Majesty the King and Queen attended
    2003 Soloist during poetry reading Touched, dizzy and anxious, Royal Dramatic Theatre

    Concert repertoire (a selection)

    Händel’s Messias
    Larsson’s Förklädd Gud
    Rutter’s Requiem
    Orff’s Carmina Burana
    Mozart’s Requiem and Exsultate Jubilate.

    Education

    2013 University college of Opera in Stockholm, stage course
    2001-2005 University college of Opera in Göteborg
    1999-2001 Operastudio 67 in Stockholm
    1998-1999 Education in Music, voice and singing, Birkagårdens Folkhögskola, Stockholm
    1996-1998 Education in Music, voice and singing, Vadstena Folkhögskola
    1994-1996 Swedish, Culture and Media studies at Lund’s University
    1990-1993 Social science education at Nacka College, Stockholm

    Karin has since 2001 had vocal training for MariAnne Häggander, vocal coach and opera singer at the Royal Opera in Stockholm, and Dale Fundling, coach.

    Roles during her education

    Susanna Le nozze di Figaro Mozart
    Leading part Miss Julie Rorem
    Violetta La Traviata Verdi
    Mimmi La Bohème Puccini
    Mélisande Pelléas et Mélisande Debussy
    Nanetta Falstaff Verdi
    Constance Dialogues of the Carmelites sisters Poulenc
    Sophie Der Rosenkavalier Richard Strauss

    Master classes

    Laura Sarti, professor at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London
    Kerstin Meyer, court singer and professor
    Dorothy Irving, professor
    Peter Lindroos, tenor
    Katarina Dalayman, court singer

    Language skills

    Swedish as first language
    English, fluent
    German and French, proficient in spoken and written
    Italian, basic skills

    Scholarships

    Sandrew
    Freemasons
    Lasse Lönndahl
    William Lind
    Alice Babs

    Other skills
    Sings also musicals and is an actress. Can dance jazz ballet and free dance.

    References
    Available upon request.