”… with vocal and theatrical panache… ” Kristianstadsbladet
The young Swedish mezzo-soprano, Solgerd Isalv, was born in Råneå, Sweden. She started her musical life playing the Suzuki violin and singing in the childrens choir in the local church and thus found her way to her passion for singing. As a teenager Solgerd played in the youth symphony orchestra Norrbottens Ungdomssymfoniker, when it won world championship in Vienna 1999. She also participated in international youth choir competitions.
She studied solo voice at the Academy of Music and Drama at the University of Göteborg with Marianne Schell, and received numerous grants and commendations for her singing. She took part in masterclasses with i.a. Helena Döse, Håkan Hagenård, Matti Hirvonen, Marianne Häggander, Anna Larsson, Neil Mackie, Thomas Quasthoff and Birgitta Svendén.
While still a student, she sang important roles such as Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte, Ramiro in La finta giardiniera and Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel. Additional engagements followed with the roles of Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro and as Mercedes in Carmen at the Skånska Opera and as Olga (under-study) in Eugen Onegin at the Gothenburg Opera. Solgerd Isalv successfully presented her German debut in 2009 while performing the role of Lucretia in the Rape of Lucretia at the Kammeroper Schloß Rheinsberg in conjunction with Theater und Philarmonie Thüringen. She again performed the same role the following year at the Miskolci Nemzetközi Operafesztivál in Hungry. Followed by the Sorceress in Dido and Aeneas in Ytterjärna and the role of the Mother in world premiere of die Verwandlung at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hamburg and the role of Carmen at the Opernwerkstatt in Köln.
Solgerd Isalv possesses a wide concert repertoire in addition to Bach oratorios and cantatas, which includes Ravel‘s Shéhérazade and Elgar‘s Sea Pictures in addition to Mahler and Wagner Lieder. She is also a member or the early music ensemble EGG.
Future plans include the role of Olga in Eugen Onegin at the Vaasan Oper.
For complete repertoire and biography please go to Repertoire or open the Swedish, English or German PDF’s:
Or visit my page at Artistkatalogen – a scandinavian casting directory
You can find pictures here
Scholarships
2012
The Swedish Arts Grants Committee
2011
Rådman och Fru Ernst Collianders Stiftelse
Helge Ax:son Johnsons Stiftelse
IRIS stipendiet
Herbert och Karin Jacobsons Stiftelse
2010
Anne Whitlocks Minnesfond
Herbert och Karin Jacobsons Stiftelse
2009
Kungliga Musikaliska Akademin; Julia Claussens minnesfond and Vivi Ekströms stipendiefond
Eduard Magnus stipendiefond
2008
Martin Posers stipendiefond
Tobisons Stiftelse
2006
Kungliga Musikaliska Akademin; Ernst Johnsons stipendiefond
Stiftelsen Frimuraresamhällets i Göteborg Musikstipendier
Anders Sandrews Stiftelse
2005
Wilhelm och Martina Lundgrens Understödsfond
Kerstin Wijk Broströms Stiftelse
Stiftelsen Therese Kamphs stipendiefond
Byggnads Kulturstipendium