Pressemeddelelse fra Det Kongelige Teater

Fire af Operaens mest skattede sangere falder for aldersgrænsen i solistensemblet i den kommende sæson. Det drejer sig om bassen Sten Byriel, tenoren Michael Kristensen og mezzosopranerne Randi Stene og Elisabeth Halling. De har alle været en fast del af solistensemblet i langt over tyve år og for Sten Byriels vedkommende i 34 år. Jens Søndergaard, der også har været en del af solistensemblet, har søgt nye udfordringer som freelancer og forlader ligeledes Operaen i denne omgang.

Operaens musikalske chefcaster, Franziska Kaiser, siger om sangerne:
"It is with great respect and gratitude that we celebrate our departing senior soloists through their final months in the ensemble. The artistry, dedication, versatility and reliability which Randi, Elisabeth, Sten and Michael have shown has made innumerable performances a wonderful experience for our audiences. It has been a real pleasure for me working with each of them and we wish them all the best on their onward journeys."

Operaen fejrer sangerne for sidste gang i denne sæson, når Sten Byriel synger Timur i Turandot den 8. juni, Michael Kristensen er Gabriel von Eisenstein i Flagermusen den 1. marts, Randi Stene og Elisabeth Halling i Vores stemmer den 2. marts, mens Jens Søndergaard er Scarpia i Tosca den 1. juni.

Morgendagens stjerner
I næste sæson kan Operaen byde velkommen til to af fremtidens operastjerner, da den belgiske sopran Margaux de Valensart og den norske mezzosopran Kari Dahl Nielsen er i solistensemblet i den kommende sæson. De er begge uddannede fra Operaakademiet, der er tilnyttet Operaen. Margaux de Valensart debuterede på Operaen som Grevinde Ceprano i Rigoletto i september 2017 og har i denne sæson sunget rollen som Musetta i La bohème. Kari Dahl Nielsen debuterede som Emilia i Otello i 2018 og var Cherubino i denne sæsons opførelse af Figaros bryllup.

Kari Dahl Nielsen ser frem til at være en del af solistensemblet:

"It is a unique opportunity to be allowed into the great history of the Royal Danish Theatre. I share the vision of the Royal Opera - to be an opera house for everyone, for every Dane of any age. I look forward to be part of the development of the Royal Opera, and to be standing alongside the soloist ensemble.

The Opera Academy has been an absolute necessity to better define my path as a singer and artist. The academy gives us the technical toolbox and the artistic opportunity to be creative on our path towards mastery. I will take every bit of knowledge acquired over the last three years, and charge into this new chapter with the same energy and will to improve and to create meaningful experiences."

Margaux de Valensart glæder sig til de nye muligheder:

"Joining the ensemble is an amazing opportunity for a young artist and a great career "kickstarter". I am very much looking forward to work together with all these wonderful artists and start this new chapter of my artistic life.

The Opera Academy helped me grow and develop both artistically and personally. It has guided me through good and bad times and helped me find the strength and confidence that I needed."

Franziska Kaiser ser frem til samarbejdet med de nye sangere:

"Welcoming two young singers into the soloist ensemble of the Royal Danish Opera is very exciting. We are happy to have got to know Margaux and Kari during their time at the Opera Academy and to now continue a relationship with both of them. Kari has a wonderful light, high mezzosoprano, a colour we need in our ensemble. She has an engaging stage presence that suits a wide range of roles. Margaux joins us with a clear, well focused soprano and a joy of learning and being on stage that is refreshing. Both voices and stage personalities have a great potential in the years to come. John Fulljames and I wish them warmly welcome for the season 19/20."

Kontakt:

PR og presseansvarlig, opera og koncerter Claus Kjær tlf.: +45 27 52 90 77 email: clkj@kglteater.dk

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