Audun Iversen

Askonas Holt is delighted to announce the representation of Norwegian baritone Audun Iversen. Mr Iversen began singing at the age of 22. He performed ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ at The State Theatre of Central Norway in 1999/2000, before doing a preparatory year at “Toneheim Folkehøgskole”, where he focused on classical singing. In July 2007 he made the final in the “Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition” in Vienna. During the 2007/08 season, whilst a student, Audun performed Schaunard in ‘La Boheme’ and Viscomte Cascada in ‘The Merry Widow’ with The Royal Opera in Copenhagen.

Before moving to Copenhagen Mr Iversen was frequently employed as soloist with the Norwegian Soloist Choir. In September 2007 they released a CD for which he sang solos by Grieg. Audun enjoyed considerable success at the “Oslo Chamber Music Festival” in August 2005 where he received brilliant reviews for his interpretation of Eumete in ‘Il Ritono D’Ulisse in Patria’ under Alan Curtis. That concert lead to an engagement with Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra as well as him being invited back to the “Oslo Chamber Music Festival” the following year to do the baritone part in Baldassare Galuppi’s ‘Confitebor’.

Conductors with whom Audun Iversen has worked include Christian Badea, Marc Soustrot, Kazushi Ono, Eivind Aadland, Lan Shui, Bruno dal Bon and Thomas Søndergaard.

Audun won the “Queen Sonja International Singing Competition” in Oslo in August 2007, in addition to being the first singer to win the newly founded “Ingrid Bjoner Scholarship”.

Solo appearances this season have included “The Grand Opening Gala” of The New Norwegian National Opera House in Oslo; “The Nobel Peace Prize” Award Ceremony singing with Elina Garanca; The Norwegian National Opera’s “New Years Concerts” and “Operafest Concerts” as well as a solo recital at “Festspillene i Bergen” (Bergen International Festival). In July Audun performed at “Lofoten International Chamber Music Festival” with pianists Leif Ove Andsnes (N), Lars Vogt (GER) and Håvard Gimse (N). This summer he was selected, together with 11 other talented young singers, to be part of the Summer Academy’s Mozart-Programme at Aix-en-Provence, where after he was selected to be one of four HSBC-Laureates for the coming season.

For the opera season 2008/09 Audun will be a principal artist with the Royal Danish Opera in Copenhagen, with whom he will sing the Count (Le Nozze di Figaro). He will also sing the title role in Don Giovanni with Glyndebourne on Tour, and the title role in Eugene Onegin in Copenhagen and at Opéra de Lille, France. Further future engagements include Albert in Werther for the Royal Opera House.