Icelandic/Norwegian bass-baritone Einar Stefánsson is currently studying with Solveig Kringlebotn at the Opera School of the National Academy of the Arts in Oslo (Norway), having previously studied at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in the UK and Iceland University of the Arts in Reykjavík. Einar is a member of Opera Holland Park’s Young Artist Programme in London in 2024.
Recent highlights include the title role in the opera Don Pasquale, a concert with Opera til folket in Oslo, receiving 2nd price in the competition Vox Domini in Iceland as well as a lunch time concert at the Oslo Opera House.
Other operatic roles include the role of Lettmatros in the world premiere of the opera Kommandanten at Oscarsborgoperaen in Norway, the role of Frank in Die Fledermaus at Bergen National Opera/Opera by the fjord, Cimarosa’s opera Il maestro di cappella, the role of Ein Hofcourier in the world premiere of the opera Die Alte Metode, the roles of Rudi/Nazi Officer/Kapo in the world premiere of Adam Gorb’s critically acclaimed opera The Path to Heaven, The Judge in The Orphans of Koombu and Blackmailer (cover) in the award winning opera Georgiana, both at Buxton International Festival, Brühlmann in Werther (Bergen National Opera), the roles of Første far and Tredje far in the contemporary opera Syvende far i huset as well as various roles in performances with RNCM Opera. In opera scenes at the National Academy of the Arts in Oslo and at the RNCM, Einar has performed roles such as Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro), Father (Hänsel und Gretel), Tesoriere (Un giorno di regno), Uberto (La serva padrona) and Papageno (Die Zauberflöte).
Einar has been a regular guest singer with the professional Norwegian vocal ensemble Edvard Grieg Kor, both in a-capella concerts and symphonic concerts. In 2020, Einar co-founded the professional a-capella quartet FirStemt in Norway.
Einar was a member of the Young Artist Programmes at Bergen National Opera (2016-2021) and at Buxton International Festival (2019). During his studies he received generous support from the Waverly Fund and the James and Mary Glass Scholarship as well as Edvard Grieg Kor. Einar has also recently received scholarships from Skipsreder Tom Wilhelmsens Stiftelse, Johnny Ellings legat and Stiftelsen Benjamin Johannessen Legat.
Being curious and versatile, Einar has been involved in a number of adventurous projects and performances of new musical works, including lead roles in the world premieres of a number of operas and other works.
Einar’s previous teachers include Simon Kirkbride, Russell Smythe, Hanna Dóra Sturludóttir and Matthew Best. He has appeared in master classes with artists such as Anne Sofie von Otter, Audun Iversen, Susanna Eken, Julius Drake, Bengt Forsberg, Kristinn Sigmundsson, Dísella Lárusdóttir, Toby Spence, Christopher Purves, Brian Jauhiainen and Ingeborg Gillebo.
Upcoming projects include various concerts in Iceland, a masterclass with Kiri Te Kanawa, the role of Fiorello (Il barbiere di Siviglia), a number of concerts in London as well as the role of Papageno (Die Zauberflöte).
Einar Stefánsson | bass-baritone 