Stefan Islandi (Tenor) (Skagafjord, Island 1907 - Skagafjord, Island 1994)

His real name was Gud Gudmundsson. Originally he was ahairdresser. From 1930 to 1935 he studied singing under the great italian baritone Ernesto Caronna. Still during education he made his debut in 1933 at the Teatro Comunale in Florence as Cavaradossi in ‘’Tosca’’. From 1935 to 1940 he gave guest performances and concerts in the European music centers. Since 1938 he sang regularly at the Royal Opera in Copenhagen, where he made his debut as Pinkerton in ‘’Madama Butterfly’’. He made guest appearances in Italy,  France, Germany and Sweden. Till 1959 he belonged to the Copenhagen Opera, where his repertoire included Duke in ‘’Rigoletto’’, Rodolfo in ‘’La Bohème’’, Turiddu in ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’ and José in ‘’Carmen’’. In 1946 he undertook a big concert tour through North America. In the 1950’s he appeared several times in his native country, where at the National Theatre of Iceland in Reykjavik he appeared with great success in  ‘’Rigoletto’’ and ‘’Tosca’’. In 1966 he returned to Iceland and became a pedagogue at the Reykjavík College of Music. From 1940 to 1949 married to the Danish mezzo-soprano Else Brems.

Chronology of some appearances

1933 Florence Teatro Comunale Tosca (Cavaradossi)

1938 Copenhagen Royal Opera Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)

RECORDING FOR SALE

HMV, København 1940-09-02

Bohème (Puccini): Che gelida manina DB5247 2CS1680