As summer reaches its peak, August brings a wave of exciting performances from Ascolta Artists across Scandinavia. From festival stages and open-air operas to major house productions and even world premieres, our artists are making headlines this month with a variety of powerful appearances.
Mezzo-soprano Mathilda Bryngelsson begins the month in Sweden, performing at the Nordic Song Festival on August 8 with the Young Nordic Opera Chorus. She closes the month on August 31 at the Herning Opera Festival in Denmark, appearing with the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra.
Opera Hedeland will host several Ascolta artists in its summer production of Le Nozze di Figaro, taking place on August 8, 15, and 16. Simon Duus takes on the role of Figaro, joined by Christian Damsgaard-Madsen as Don Curzio/Basilio, Sidsel Aja Eriksen as Cherubino, Louise McClelland as Contessa and Johan Spungin as Conte — a true ensemble of Ascolta talent.
The Copenhagen Opera Festival brings a thrilling variety of performances. On August 13, countertenor Steffen Jespersen appears in the world premiere of Opera EKKO by Josefine Opsahl at Teater Monumentum in collaboration with Den Fynske Opera. On August 19, soprano Yana Kleyn sings Micaëla and mezzo-soprano Clàudia Ribas takes on the title role in a concert version of Carmen with the Malmö Opera Orchestra. Earlier in the month, on August 3, Louise McClelland joins Copenhagen Philharmonic for the Plænekoncerter at Tivoli.
Soprano Frederikke Kampmann has a busy month ahead – she takes on the iconic role of Violetta Valéry in La Traviata at Den Jyske Opera on August 19, 21, and 23. She also participates in a unique collaborative production, Vi bygger en Mozart-opera sammen, with the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra at the Herning Opera Festival on August 30.
Tenor Anders Kampmann performs as Siegfried in Götterdämmerung at Den Ny Opera in Esbjerg on August 24. This highly anticipated performance features a powerful cast of Ascolta artists, including Trine Møller as Brünnhilde, Jens Søndergaard as Gunther, Sofie Lund as Woglinde, and Francine Vis as Wellgunde.
Meanwhile, Hrólfur Sæmundsson sings the role of Giorgio Germont alongside Frederikke Kampmann in La Traviata, while tenor Jens Christian Tvilum takes part in Poul Ruders’ contemporary opera Det 13. Barn with the Odense Symphony Orchestra on August 21 and 22.
With such a wide range of performances happening throughout August, it’s a pleasure to see our artists engaged in so many exciting projects — from new works and major roles to collaborations with respected orchestras and opera houses. We look forward to following their work and sharing more updates as the season continues.