Íris Björk Gunnarsdóttir

INTRODUCTION

Íris Björk Gunnarsdóttir is an Icelandic lyric soprano who has proved herself as an opera and concert singer both in Norway and Iceland in recent years. Her talent shines through in the warmth of her performances, captivating audiences with grace, vocal quality, and emotional connection to the music.

RECENT AND FUTURE ENGAGEMENTS

In the 2023/2024 season, Íris Björk was a Young Artist at the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet. During the season she performed the roles of Annina/La traviata, Diana/Orphée aux Enfer, Kate Pinkerton/Madama Butterfly and Sœur Mathilde in the Barrie Kosky production of Dialogues des Carmélites.

In the 2024/2025 season, she will perform the role of Sylva/Csárdásfürstin in Bodø and Tromsø. Additionally, she will serve as a Singer in Residence at the Reykjavík Opera Festival and appear as a soloist in a Christmas Concert with the Philharmonic Choir in Reykjavík. In the spring, she will be a soloist in the world premiere of the new opera Fønix by Stian Westerhus and Lisa Lie at the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet.

BIOGRAPHY

Íris Björk Gunnarsdóttir is from Skagafjörður in Northern Iceland but grew up in Sweden. She started her vocal studies at the Iceland University of the Arts with teachers Þóra Einarsdóttir, Hanna Dóra Sturludóttir, Kristinn Sigmundsson, and Stuart Skelton. In 2021 she moved to Norway to pursue her Master’s degree at the Oslo Opera Academy with Toril Carlsen as her teacher. In 2023/2024 she was a Young Artist at The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet; she is currently one of the talents of the newly started Voksenåsen Talent Program with Randi Stene as her mentor.

Among her 2022/2023 engagements were a Christmas oratorio with the Philharmonic Choir of Iceland, Sandrina/La finta giardiniera by W. A. Mozart (masters production at the Oslo Opera Academy), and  Mimì/La bohéme at the Bergen National Opera Academy.

Íris Björk has performed with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra in Harpa Concert Hall as one of the winners of their annual Young Soloists competition. She was also the overall winner of the singing competition Vox Domini in 2018 and received the title “Voice of the Year”. As part of the awards, she had her first soloist recital in Harpa Concert Hall later that same year.

Íris Björk is especially interested in contemporary opera and has a big passion for telling stories that are thought-provoking and leave an impact on the audience. She regularly sings at concerts and oratorios in Norway and Iceland.